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If you live in the UAE and want to do Umrah, you apply for a visa online and then book a free permit on the Nusuk platform. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah describes the Umrah visa as an electronic visa for pilgrims, with entry within three months of issue and a stay of up to thirty days. We check your route and file it for you.
Two routes from the UAE
Route 1: the Umrah visa on Nusuk. The ministry launched Nusuk Umrah on . It lets pilgrims from outside the Kingdom apply directly for an Umrah visa and book accommodation, transport and tours on one platform, without an intermediary. The address is umrah.nusuk.sa.
Route 2: the Saudi tourist eVisa. The tourist visa covers Umrah outside the Hajj season, and you then book the Umrah permit on Nusuk. If you want a longer, multiple entry visa that also covers Riyadh or AlUla, read our Saudi visa for UAE residents page. It covers eligibility for GCC residents, family members and the US, UK or Schengen route.
The Umrah visa is built for the pilgrimage. The tourist visa is wider but follows its own rules. Pick the one that matches your plan, not the cheaper headline.
What the ministry says about the visa
These points come from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah FAQ, read .
| Item | What the ministry says |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Electronic visa, free movement between Makkah, Madinah and all cities |
| Cost | Estimated at SAR 300 |
| Enter within | Three months of the issue date |
| Maximum stay | Thirty days, ending at the latest on 15 Dhu al-Qi'dah |
| Visas per year | More than one is allowed |
| Minimum age | 5 years |
| Women | May perform Umrah without a mahram |
Source: haj.gov.sa FAQ, checked . The FAQ still carries old Coronavirus wording in places, so treat the SAR amount as a guide and read the final price on the platform. We could not find at least two Dubai agencies publishing a clear Umrah visa price, so we show no market range.
The Nusuk permit
The visa gets you in. The permit lets you perform Umrah. The ministry's e-service page lists visitors, GCC citizens, citizens and residents as users. You log in to Nusuk with National Single Sign-On (Nafath), choose the Umrah permit service, pick a date and a time slot, and the permit is issued. The page lists the cost as free and the processing as immediate.
Book one permit per person. Families travelling together should book on the same day so the slots sit side by side.
Season dates
For the 1448 AH season the ministry calendar gives these dates:
- Visa issuance and entry open on .
- New visa issuance closes on .
- The last entry date is .
- All pilgrims must depart by .
The page does not give Hajj pause dates. If you plan near the Hajj period, check the ministry before you buy tickets, because the tourist visa Umrah allowance applies outside Hajj season.
Documents to have ready
The platform lists the exact uploads, and they can change. These are the papers people usually need to hand:
- Passport valid for the whole trip, with the scan of the photo page.
- A passport-style photo.
- Your UAE residence details, so we can check which route you qualify for.
- For family files, a passport copy for every member including children.
- A Nafath login for the permit step, or a plan for how you will log in to Nusuk.
Common reasons trips go wrong
- Permit not booked. The visa alone is not enough for Umrah.
- Entry window missed. Three months pass quickly if you issue the visa early.
- Stay too long. The visa ends the thirty-day stay at the latest on 15 Dhu al-Qi'dah.
- Name spelled differently on the flight, the visa and the permit.
- A child under 5. The ministry gives 5 years as the minimum age.
How it works with us
You can apply alone on the Nusuk platform, and plenty of people do. We help when you want the route checked before you pay, or when a family file has several passports. Send passport copies and your Emirates ID on WhatsApp or through the form on this page. An adviser tells you which route fits, you get one total price before paying, our team files the visa and follows it, and we help you book each Nusuk permit. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service. Saudi authorities decide every visa and permit.
If a visa is refused, Saudi fees are not returned by the authorities. Before you pay, your adviser tells you in writing which part of our total, if any, comes back in that case.
Official sources
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah FAQ: visa definition, cost estimate, validity, age and mahram answers.
- Nusuk Umrah launch notice: what the platform does and its launch date.
- Umrah permit application: who can book and the five steps.
- Umrah season calendar for 1448 AH: visa and entry dates.
- Visit Saudi visa regulations: tourist visa and Umrah outside Hajj season.
See other options in visas from Dubai and visa on arrival for UAE residents.
