Where Is Umrah Performed? Which Country and City; Makkah, Madinah and the Miqat Points

The short answer to where is Umrah performed is the city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia; all the rites of Umrah are completed in Masjid al-Haram and between the hills of Safa and Marwah inside the mosque. But the Umrah journey does not take place at a single point: ihram is entered at the miqat boundaries outside Makkah, most programmes also include Madinah, and those coming from Türkiye land at Jeddah or Madinah airport. In this article we explain in which country and city Umrah is performed, the places where the worship takes place, where ihram is entered, the place of Madinah in Umrah and how these places are reached from Türkiye, following the Umrah guide of Diyanet (Türkiye’s Presidency of Religious Affairs). You will find how Umrah is performed in a separate guide.

In Which Country and City Is Umrah Performed?

Umrah is performed only in Saudi Arabia, in the city of Makkah al-Mukarramah; because tawaf, the pillar of Umrah, is performed around the Kaaba, and sa’i, its necessary act, between Safa and Marwah beside the Kaaba. As the Kaaba is unique in the world, it is not possible to perform Umrah in another country or city. Makkah was founded in a valley surrounded by mountains in the Hijaz region in the west of the Arabian Peninsula, about seventy kilometres from the Red Sea; it is the centre of the Haram region, which is closed to non-Muslims.

Madinah, which is often confused with Umrah, is not the place where Umrah is performed. Madinah is the city of the grave of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Prophet’s Mosque; although a visit there is not part of Umrah, it is included in almost all programmes because of its merit. Umrah and Hajj share the same places, but Hajj also includes Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina to the east of Makkah; we explained the places of Hajj in our article on where Hajj is performed.

Where, and in which country, is Umrah performed?

Umrah is performed in the city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia, in Masjid al-Haram where the Kaaba stands; tawaf is completed around the Kaaba and sa’i between Safa and Marwah inside the mosque. Ihram is entered at the miqat boundaries outside Makkah. The visit to Madinah is not part of Umrah but is included in most programmes.

The Geography of Makkah and the Boundaries of the Haram

Makkah was founded in a narrow valley between the Sarat Mountains; the Kaaba is at the lowest point of the valley, and the city rises towards the surrounding hills. This geography shapes the daily life of the Umrah pilgrim: hotels far from the Haram are mostly on slopes, the walk down to the mosque is easy and the walk back up is tiring. The Haram region surrounding the city, whose boundaries are attributed to the Prophet Ibrahim, encircles the Kaaba on all sides at distances varying from a few kilometres to twenty kilometres; the boundary points are marked by large arches on the roads. Within the Haram, game animals are not touched, plants are not uprooted and non-Muslims may not enter.

The practical importance of the boundary of the Haram for Umrah is this: a person who is inside the Haram and wishes to enter ihram for a new Umrah must first go outside the Haram; this is why those performing a second Umrah in Makkah go to Tan’im. Those who live outside the Haram and those arriving from outside enter ihram at the miqat. This distinction determines where Umrah begins.

What does the Haram region mean?

The Haram region is the sacred area with defined boundaries and inviolable status around Makkah; it surrounds the Kaaba on all sides and its boundaries are shown by marker arches on the roads. Hunting and uprooting plants are forbidden in this region, and non-Muslims may not enter. Those in Makkah who wish to enter ihram for a new Umrah go outside the boundary of the Haram, usually to Tan’im.

Masjid al-Haram: The Mosque Where Umrah Is Performed

Masjid al-Haram is the structure surrounding the Kaaba which, through its expansions, has become the largest mosque in the world. The two main parts of Umrah take place here: the tawaf made in seven rounds around the Kaaba, and the sa’i made in seven passages between the hills of Safa and Marwah. Safa and Marwah today lie inside the mosque, in the long covered and air-conditioned gallery called the Mas’a; the distance between the two hills is about four hundred metres. The tawaf prayer is performed behind the Station of Ibrahim, and Zamzam is drunk from the taps everywhere in the mosque. The final step of Umrah, shaving or trimming the hair, is done outside the mosque, at the barbers nearby or at the hotel; men shave their heads and women cut a small amount from the ends of their hair, and with this ihram ends and the Umrah is complete.

After the rites of Umrah are completed, Masjid al-Haram remains the centre of the days; it is the place where Umrah pilgrims spend the most time, for the daily prayers, voluntary tawafs and reading the Qur’an. We explained the parts of the mosque and the places around the Kaaba in our article on the parts of the Kaaba, and the performance of tawaf in our guide on how to perform tawaf.

Where Is Ihram Entered? The Miqat Points

The boundaries that those coming to Makkah with the intention of Umrah must not pass without ihram are called the miqat. The Prophet (peace be upon him) designated five miqat points; today, for Umrah pilgrims from Türkiye, there are in practice two situations:

• Those flying directly to Jeddah: Because Jeddah lies within the miqat boundaries, the ihram preparations are made at the airport in Türkiye; the intention and the talbiyah are recited before the plane reaches the miqat line. The line of Rabigh is the miqat for these flights, and the cabin crew or the guide announces the moment.
• Those going to Madinah first: After the visit to Madinah, ihram is entered at the Mosque of Dhul Hulaifah (Abyar Ali) to the south of Madinah when moving on to Makkah; this is the miqat for the direction of Madinah and the miqat point furthest from Makkah.
• Those performing a second Umrah in Makkah: They go outside the boundary of the Haram and enter ihram at the Aisha Mosque in Tan’im; this mosque is a few kilometres from Masjid al-Haram.

Where do those coming from Türkiye enter ihram?

Those flying directly to Jeddah put on the ihram garments at the airport and recite the intention and the talbiyah on the plane before passing the miqat line; those going to Madinah first enter ihram at the miqat of Dhul Hulaifah (Abyar Ali) when moving on to Makkah. Which arrangement applies depends on whether the programme starts from Makkah or Madinah, and your agency will tell you before you set out. Because passing the miqat without ihram requires a penalty, wait for the guide’s reminder.

Madinah: The Visit That Is Not Part of Umrah

Madinah is about four hundred and fifty kilometres to the north of Makkah. Here Umrah pilgrims pray in the Prophet’s Mosque, visit the grave of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and offer greetings, and pray in the Rawdah by appointment; Quba Mosque, the Martyrs of Uhud, Masjid al-Qiblatayn and the Jannat al-Baqi cemetery are the fixed stops of the programmes. There are no ihram restrictions in Madinah; so if the programme starts from Madinah, travellers spend a few days comfortably and without ihram. The tradition of praying forty prayers in Madinah rests on a narration and is not a condition of Umrah. We collected the places to visit in our article on places to visit in Madinah.

Is it necessary to go to Madinah for Umrah?

No, Umrah is completed only in Makkah; the visit to Madinah is not a pillar, necessary act or Sunnah of Umrah. Madinah is added to programmes for the merit of visiting the grave of the Prophet and the Prophet’s Mosque. Short programmes covering Makkah alone are also organised for those with limited time.

What Is Visited During Umrah? The Places of Visit

Although the rites of Umrah are completed in Masjid al-Haram, the Umrah journey also includes seeing the sites of the Prophet’s biography in Makkah and Madinah. The places visited as a group with a guide in most programmes are these:

• Jabal al-Nour and the Cave of Hira: The cave where the first revelation came; most groups visit from the foot of the mountain.
• Mount Thawr: The mountain with the cave where the Prophet hid for three days during the Hijrah; details in our article on the Cave of Thawr.
• Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina: The places of Hajj; outside the Hajj period, Umrah pilgrims tour these areas by vehicle and climb the Mount of Mercy.
• Jannat al-Mu’alla: The cemetery of Makkah where the grave of Khadijah is found.
• Tan’im (the Aisha Mosque): The mosque where ihram is entered for a voluntary Umrah.
• In Madinah: The Prophet’s Mosque and the Rawdah, Quba Mosque, the Martyrs of Uhud, Masjid al-Qiblatayn and Jannat al-Baqi.

Do you go to Arafat during Umrah?

Yes, in most Umrah programmes Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina are toured by vehicle and dua is made at the foot of the Mount of Mercy; but this visit is not part of Umrah and carries no ruling of standing outside the Hajj period. The visit is made to get to know the places of Hajj and to remember the Prophet’s biography on the spot; its duration is about half a day, depending on the programme.

Jeddah and the Airports: The Gateways of the Journey

Those going on Umrah from Türkiye land at one of two airports. King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah is about eighty kilometres and an hour and a half from Makkah by road; because Jeddah lies within the miqat, those flying there land in ihram. Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah is used if the programme starts from Madinah and is half an hour from the city centre. The flight from Istanbul to Jeddah takes about four hours, and to Madinah three and a half hours; there are also direct flights from the big cities of Anatolia, and we listed the departure points on our Umrah departure cities page.

Where do you go for Umrah, and which airport do you land at?

For Umrah you fly to Saudi Arabia, to Jeddah if the programme starts from Makkah and to Madinah Airport if it starts from Madinah. Makkah is reached from Jeddah in an hour and a half by bus, and from Madinah in two and a half hours by the Haramain high-speed train. Those landing in Jeddah enter ihram on the plane; those landing in Madinah enter ihram at Dhul Hulaifah when moving on to Makkah.

The Places of Umrah: A Summary Table

The table below summarises the places passed through on the Umrah journey, their functions and the approximate distances between them; the times vary with crowds and traffic.

How Do You Travel Between Makkah and Madinah?

There are three options between the two cities. The Haramain high-speed train runs between Makkah, Jeddah, King Abdullah Economic City and Madinah; the journey between Makkah and Madinah takes about two and a half hours by train, and most programmes prefer this route. By road, the coach takes four to five hours; groups travel with breaks, and those moving from Madinah to Makkah stop at Dhul Hulaifah for ihram. Travel by plane is rarely used. Because the train stations are outside the city centres, a transfer is needed between the station and the hotel, which the agency arranges.

The baggage allowance on the Haramain train is limited, and large suitcases need separate arrangements; groups therefore usually send the luggage by coach while the travellers go by train. Umrah pilgrims moving from Madinah to Makkah by train enter ihram at the hotel in Madinah or at Dhul Hulaifah, and make the intention and recite the talbiyah before the train passes the line of the miqat; the guide announces the moment. For those who prefer the road, a stop is made at the Mosque of Dhul Hulaifah, with sufficient facilities for the full ablution and the ihram prayer. Reciting the talbiyah throughout the journey and not neglecting to drink water is the simplest way to begin Umrah fresh on arriving in Makkah.

How many hours does it take from Makkah to Madinah?

The journey between Makkah and Madinah takes about two and a half hours by the Haramain high-speed train and four to five hours by coach; the distance is about four hundred and fifty kilometres. Because the train stations are outside the cities, the total time with hotel transfers is three to four hours. Those moving from Madinah to Makkah enter ihram on the way at the miqat of Dhul Hulaifah.

Why Is It Important to Know the Places of Umrah?

Knowing where Umrah is performed is not just a matter of geographical curiosity, but of the validity of the worship: passing the miqat without ihram requires a penalty, the sa’i must begin from Safa, and for a voluntary Umrah one must go outside the boundary of the Haram. An Umrah pilgrim who learns these details in advance understands the guide’s reminders better and knows what they are doing at every stage of the journey. You can find the places to visit in Makkah in our article on places to visit in Makkah, and all the steps of Umrah in our guide on how to perform Umrah.

Important: Only Muslims may enter the Haram region, and entry to Makkah is by Umrah or Hajj permit. Because the issuing of Umrah visas can be temporarily suspended in the Hajj season, confirm the date of your programme with your agency.

At RotaNur we organise our Umrah programmes with arrangements starting from Makkah or from Madinah, with different departure cities and accommodation options. You can compare the programmes on our Umrah tours page, look at our Makkah hotels page for accommodation close to the Haram, and for your questions write to us 24/7 from our contact page or the WhatsApp button on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions