What goes on an Umrah packing list? In short: your documents (a passport with at least six months’ validity, visa, vaccination certificate, bookings and insurance), ihram clothing and sandals, unscented toiletries, medicines and heat protection, a power bank and a local SIM, some Saudi riyals in small notes, and a few things for the mosque itself — a shoe bag, a prayer mat and a pocket Qur’an.
Below are all 28 essentials, grouped the way you will actually pack them, each with a line on why it earns its place. They are the same 28 items we pre-load into the checklist inside Aydeen, so you can work from this page or from your phone.
Documents: start your Umrah packing list here
Documents are the one category you cannot fix after landing, and the rules depend on your nationality, visa and the time of year. Treat these as prompts to check, not as the rules themselves.
- Passport, valid for six months or moreUK government travel advice says your passport must have an expiry date at least six months after you arrive in Saudi Arabia. Check your own government’s advice as well.
- Umrah visa or eVisa printoutA paper copy helps when your phone is flat or an official asks to see it.
- Vaccination cardThe Saudi Ministry of Health’s Umrah health requirements for 2026 ask everyone performing Umrah to be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis (ACYW) at least 10 days before arrival. Certificates and other vaccines — polio, yellow fever, COVID-19 for some groups — depend on where you travel from and, for COVID-19, your age and health.
- Tasreeh (permit), if applicableTasreeh simply means permit. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists Umrah permit booking as a free service on the Nusuk app and website. Keep any other letter your situation needs with your passport.
- Flight booking PDFSaved offline and printed, so check-in never depends on an airport Wi-Fi login.
- Hotel booking confirmationFor check-in, and to show a driver the address when you land tired.
- Travel insuranceRead what it covers for medical care and cancellation, and carry the policy number and emergency line on paper.
- Photo ID copies, laminated, ×2One in your luggage and one on you, always kept apart from the passport itself.
Check official rules
Visa, permit and health requirements change, sometimes between seasons. Before you book, and again before you fly, check the current Saudi Ministry of Health requirements for pilgrims and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s Nusuk services, and ask your travel agent or group organiser. This list is a memory aid, not an official requirements list.
Ihram essentials and clothing
Clothing is where packing meets the rites. What is worn in ihram is taught by scholars, who differ on the details, so we list what to pack, not what is permitted.
- Ihram cloths, two sets (men)A spare set means a spill, a wash that won’t dry or a torn edge doesn’t leave you stuck.
- Ihram belt with pouchesKeeps a passport copy, phone and cash close when you have no pockets.
- Sandals, toe and heel exposedThe “toe and heel exposed” note reflects what many men are taught about footwear in ihram. Bring a pair you have already walked in.
- Modest abayas or loose clothing (women)Loose, breathable and light-coloured fabrics are easier in the heat.
- Comfortable walking shoesFor the days outside ihram. The walk between hotel and mosque adds up, several times a day.
Not a ruling
This is a general overview, not a fatwa. What is permitted in ihram, and what to do if you are unsure, is a question for a qualified scholar — ideally your group’s scholar, before you leave home.
Health and heat
Makkah is hot for much of the year, and you will be on your feet far more than on an ordinary trip. The Saudi Ministry of Health’s heat advice for pilgrims is plain and worth following: use an umbrella when walking in the sun, drink water often even before you feel thirsty, wear light, breathable, light-coloured clothing, and avoid direct sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Unscented soap and shampooMany pilgrims switch to unscented toiletries for the whole trip rather than swapping mid-way. Which products count as scented is a question for your scholar.
- Prescription medication, with a doctor’s letterEnough for the trip plus a few spare days, in original packaging. Ask your doctor or the Saudi embassy whether any of your medicines need extra paperwork.
- Over-the-counter basicsParacetamol, oral rehydration salts, an anti-diarrhoeal and plasters. A blister or an upset stomach can easily cost you a day.
- Sunscreen, unscented during ihramFaces, necks and the tops of feet burn quickly on long walks.
- Lip balmThe air is dry. Choose an unscented one for the same reason as your soap.
- Refillable water bottleIt makes “drink before you are thirsty” a habit rather than a good intention.
- Face masks (N95)Useful in dense crowds and on long flights; pack several.
Good to know
An umbrella isn’t in the default 28, but the Ministry of Health’s heat advice makes a strong case for it. It is the first custom item we would add.
Tech and money
Your phone will hold your bookings, maps and permits. Keep it charged and connected — but don’t rely on it for money.
- Power bank and cablesLong days away from a socket drain a phone quickly. Check your airline’s rules on carrying power banks.
- International SIM or eSIMSet it up before you fly, so you land connected rather than hunting for a shop.
- Cash in SAR, small notesHandy for small purchases and for moments when a card isn’t an option. The riyal is pegged at 3.75 to the US dollar, according to the Saudi Central Bank, which makes rough sums easier.
- Backup credit or debit cardKept in a different place from your main card, so one lost wallet isn’t the end of your budget.
In the Haram: shoe bag, prayer mat, pocket Qur’an
- Small foldable shoe bagCarry your shoes with you rather than leaving them at an entrance and searching for them in a crowd afterwards.
- Prayer matA thin, foldable one is useful in hotel rooms and in outdoor prayer areas.
- Pocket Qur’anMany people prefer paper in the mosque. Keep it in a clean pouch, apart from shoes.
- Notebook and penFor the du’as people asked you to make, your own reflections, and the hotel address.
What to leave at home
A lighter bag is a kinder bag on a long walk.
| Leave at home | Why | Bring instead |
|---|---|---|
| Perfume and scented toiletries | Many pilgrims avoid scent in ihram; it is easy to use one by habit | Unscented soap, shampoo, sunscreen and lip balm |
| New, unworn shoes | Blisters on day one can shape the whole trip | Sandals and shoes you have already walked in |
| Expensive jewellery and valuables | Easy to lose in a crowd, and a worry you don’t need | Only what you would be at peace losing |
| Large amounts of cash | Hard to keep track of, and costly to lose | Small notes for the day, plus a backup card kept apart |
| Heavy books and extra outfits | You carry every gram, and suitcases fill on the way home | A pocket Qur’an, fewer and lighter clothes |
Keep your Umrah checklist in your pocket
We built this list into Aydeen because the list on your phone is the one you will have with you when you pack. It sits under Tools › Checklist, and also under Hajj & Umrah › Pre-travel checklist.
Open the checklist
The first time you open it, the 28 items on this page are already there, from passport to notebook.
Tick as you pack
Tap an item to tick it off. A progress bar and a simple count (“12 of 28 done”) show how far you have got. The list is saved on your phone.
Make it yours
Tap + to add your own items — an umbrella, a plug adapter, gifts for family — and swipe left on anything that doesn’t apply to you.
Two other tools sit alongside it. The currency converter shows live SAR rates against 11 common currencies, from the US dollar and pound to the rupee and ringgit, and falls back to the last saved rates when you lose signal. Weather & heat alerts shows the current feels-like temperature, humidity and wind plus a 7-day forecast for your prayer-times location, and a heat warning card when it feels like 38 °C or more.
Once you arrive, the Tawaf and Sa’i counters help you keep track of your seven rounds, and prayer times follow your location — our explainer on why prayer apps show different Fajr and Isha times covers the settings. For everything else Aydeen does day to day, see our tour of the daily worship features.
Honest limits
- The checklist is a general starting point. It doesn’t know your nationality, visa type, travel dates or madhhab, and it is not an official requirements list.
- Exchange rates come from an open data source. They are reference rates, not the rate a bank or exchange counter will give you.
- A fresh forecast or new rates need a connection. Offline, you see the last ones saved.
- The free version shows a small banner ad on these screens. Ads are non-personalised and G-rated, and Premium removes them.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need for Umrah?
Usually a passport valid for at least six months after arrival, an Umrah or other eligible visa, proof of required vaccinations, your bookings and travel insurance. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah offers Umrah permit booking through Nusuk. Rules depend on your nationality and change, so check current Saudi Ministry of Health and Ministry of Hajj and Umrah guidance before you travel.
Can I use scented soap or deodorant in ihram?
Many pilgrims are taught to avoid perfume and scented products while in ihram, which is why most packing lists include unscented soap, shampoo and sunscreen. Scholars discuss exactly which products this covers, so ask a qualified scholar, ideally your group's scholar, before you travel. This page is not a ruling.
How much cash should I take for Umrah?
There is no set amount; it depends on your stay, what is prepaid and how you like to pay. A practical approach is some riyals in small notes for daily purchases, plus a backup card kept apart from your main one. The Saudi riyal is pegged at 3.75 to the US dollar.
Is there an app with an Umrah checklist?
Aydeen, our free app for iOS and Android, includes a pre-travel checklist pre-loaded with the 28 items on this page. You can tick items off, add your own and swipe away the ones that don't apply, and the list is saved on your phone.
Is something missing from the list, or did one item earn its place on your own journey? Tell us — we would like the default 28 to keep getting better. Email hello@aydeen.com — we read everything.