Hajj and Umrah are attractive targets for defrauding unsuspecting travelers. Be aware of unscrupulous personal guides or individuals who may pose as tour operators, who abandon pilgrims, leaving them with unpaid bills, and hoteliers who demand the payment of exorbitant “hidden charges” for the return of passports. Registration for Hajj any bookings of accommodations and flights will now only be through the online Motawif portal.

There have been reports of pick-pocketing, theft, and other crime in Mecca, particularly in the region of the Grand Mosque, and in Medina with large crowds of people. Do not leave passports or valuables unattended.

Lost U.S. passports or residency permits (“green cards”):

• Report the loss immediately to your travel agent.
• Obtain a report from the local police.
• Contact the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah for assistance issuing replacement passports to U.S. citizens, and “boarding foils” to U.S. legal permanent residents who lose their residency permits. Please note however, that once you begin performing Hajj in Mecca, you cannot depart Saudi Arabia until Hajj period is complete without obtaining permission from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The Hijri calendar is used in Saudi Arabia for all official functions. Please review the dates on your visa carefully, and make sure you know when it expires.

Do not overstay your Hajj or Umrah visa. Penalties for overstays may include fines amounting to thousands of dollars, detention pending deportation proceedings, and bans on returning to Saudi Arabia in the future.

Umrah visas are typically valid for about 90 days. You must depart before the visa expires.

During Hajj, the government may set new departure requirements that limit when you can depart. Local regulations include provisions that may keep you from leaving early. Travelers must comply with all Saudi government travel regulations.

Permitted areas of travel and duration of stay: If you are unsure, be sure to ask Saudi airport officials or the Passport Office (jawazat) for clarification upon arrival.

• Hajj and Umrah (pilgrimage) visas are valid for travel only in the vicinities of Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina, and for travel between these cities. These visas are not valid for work or residency. Unapproved travel outside these areas may result in immigration violations and penalties.
• Non-Muslims are forbidden to travel to the holy city of Mecca, and the portions of Medina which are considered sacred. All pilgrims must leave Saudi Arabia after Hajj no later than the 10th of Muharram of each year (this year approximately August 8, 2022).
• Pilgrims are forbidden to stay in Saudi Arabia after the completion of Hajj.

As of June 2021, women of all ages can now register for Hajj without a male guardian as long as they go in a group with other women.

Be prepared for standards of accessibility and accommodation below the minimum of what is required in the United States. While most of the Holy Sites, such as the Grand Mosque in Mecca, are handicap-accessible, most hotels and transportation options are not. Check with your tour group provider to ensure your needs are well known and can be accommodated.

Please note that special Covid requirements are outlined at the beginning of this information page.

Make sure your routine immunizations are up to date, and ask your tour operator about the vaccinations required for your visa. Hepatitis A and B and polio vaccinations are also recommended. Make sure to check language on medical needs (get your prescriptions, get your flu shot; meningitis and other vaccinations may be recommended by your doctor).

Carry hand sanitizer, as well as treatments for colds, diarrhea, rash, and anything else you might need.

Heat-related illnesses (high risk): Move to a cool area and seek medical attention if you experience profuse sweating, chills, headache, dizziness, and nausea. Temperatures at pilgrimage sites consistently exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Stay hydrated, rest, and use protection from the sun.

There are facilities providing water, public accommodations, and other amenities. Due to large crowds, however, travelers should expect long wait times for basic amenities, especially in Mina, Muzdalifa, and Arafat.

At the Airport: Expect Crowded Airport Terminals

• Due to the incredible numbers of people being simultaneously processed at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, disembarking, immigration and customs processes may take quite a few hours.

• Expect a lengthy wait in hot and humid conditions before leaving the airport. Travelers with only carry-on bags will find their airport experience to be much easier than those with checked baggage.
• Some Hajj pilgrims now fly directly to Medina and proceed to Mecca by road. There is no option to fly to Mecca.

Between Ritual Sites

• The Saudi government provides strict timetables to Hajj groups for all travel (bus, light rail, and foot) between the ritual sites. All routes and modes of transport will be extremely congested, and travelers should prepare for long delays.
• Light rail trains are typically overwhelmed, with pilgrims waiting several hours at the train stations at Arafat and Muzdalifah on crowded platforms before being able to board a train. Train cars will also be very crowded. Timetables and light rail movements are outside the control of travel agencies.
• Use maps and smartphone applications to navigate the Hajj ritual sites that stretch from the Grand Mosque (Al Masjid al Haram) to Arafat.

Saudi authorities forbid the taking of photographs (still or video, including those taken with your phone) at the Holy Mosque at Mecca or at the Prophet's Mosque at Medina. Any violation of official instructions is likely to lead to the confiscation of your device. Please exercise good judgment and respect the rules of each site.

See U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for guidance on bringing religious articles back to the United States.

We recommend that travelers returning to the U.S. not bring any food items, including dates, that are not commercially processed and in their sealed, original container. U.S. CBP officers at the port of entry to the U.S. are responsible for deciding which items to allow.

Zamzam water (drawn from the sacred Zamzam well inside the Grand Mosque): Please check with your travel agent and airline for guidance on including Zamzam water as checked baggage.

• U.S. citizens traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah should regularly monitor the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website where the Department of State’s Travel Advisory for Saudi Arabia and the current Worldwide Caution can be found.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• We recommend you get a local SIM card; many plans are offered for the Hajj time period.
• Ensure you have your hotel contact information readily available.
• Follow us on Twitter @KSA_ACS and @TravelGov as well as the U.S. Mission Saudi Arabia, Consulate General Jeddah, and Bureau of Consular Affairs Facebook pages.

Emergency Contact Information for Hajj Authorities

• The National Tawafa Establishment for Pilgrims of Turkey and Muslims of Europe, Americas, and Australia
  Telephone: +966-920-012-013
  Fax:  966-920-006-620
  Website: http://www.teaa.com.sa/
  Street Address: Mecca Al Mukarramah, Al Nuzha Road, near Alnuzha Bridge
• Health Affairs
  012-530-8812
• Lost Pilgrims
  012-530-8813
• Emergency Services
  For all emergencies including ambulance service call 911.

Note: When dialing the Jeddah area (includes Mecca and Taif) from the U.S., use country code 966 and city code 12. For example, dial 011-966-012-220-5000 to reach us at U.S. Consulate General Jeddah. When dialing the Riyadh area, use city code 11, e.g. 011-966-11-835-4000 for the U.S. Embassy. Cell phone numbers do not use the city code.

Emergency Contact Information for U.S. Citizens

• U.S. Embassy Riyadh:                      (966) (11) 835-4000
• U.S. Consulate General Jeddah:        (966) (12) 220-5000
• U.S. Consulate General Dhahran:      (966) (13) 330-3200

Hours of operation are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm local time in Saudi Arabia, Sunday through Thursday for routine inquiries. During regular business hours, please ask for the American Citizen Services Unit.

In 2022, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates General will be closed for routine services from July 10-13for Eid-al-Adha

For emergency cases outside of regular business hours or during holidays, use the same numbers listed above to reach a duty officer for assistance.

In addition, you can call the Department of State from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays):

            From the U.S. & Canada:    1-888-407-4747
            From Overseas:               +1-202-501-4444

What We Can and Cannot Do

We hope that you will have a trouble-free Hajj or Umrah, as thousands of other pilgrims from the United States do each year. If something does go wrong, however, the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah can provide you appropriate consular services, such as:

• Arrange for emergency U.S. passports and “boarding foils” for lost I-551 (“green cards”) for U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. After Hajj, please bring a report from the police station regarding the theft or loss, and a copy of your U.S. passport or green card if possible.
• Seek to contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been arrested.
• Make special arrangements in case of civil disturbances or disasters.
• Provide contact information for local lawyers and hospitals.
• Arrange for a spouse or next of kin to be informed if you are involved in an accident, arrested, or die, and advise them on the appropriate procedures.

We cannot, however:

• Arrange for travel outside of the designated areas in Mecca and Medina.
• Resolve immigration violations.
• Become involved in any disagreements, e.g. pilgrim and travel agency disputes or lost baggage.
• Rearrange airline, hotel, or other travel bookings.
• Pay for hotel, legal, medical, travel, or other bills.
• Obtain someone’s release from prison.
• Provide legal advice or intervene in court cases or criminal investigations