About three.7 million folks take part in Hajj annually and one other 19 million go to Mecca for Umrah, a shorter pilgrimage that may be achieved at different instances of the 12 months.
Each pilgrimages embody folks from the UK.
Annually, as much as 25,000 British Muslims fly for Hajj, in addition to 126,000 for Umrah.
And the Ministry of Overseas Affairs has issued recommendation for individuals who intend to depart this 12 months.
Muslims tour the Kaaba, the cubic constructing of the Grand Mosque within the Holy Metropolis of Mecca, on Sunday August four, 2019
(Picture: AP)
1. Use a licensed journey agent
Saudi rules require British pilgrims performing Umrah and Hajj to journey with a good British journey company authorised by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, accredited by the Royal Saudi Embassy and coated by ATOL.
If you don’t use a licensed journey agent or when you receive a sound visa and allow, you danger quick eviction, detention, high quality or journey ban ; future in Saudi Arabia.
Verify the total itinerary of your pilgrimage earlier than departure.
The British Embassy receives a lot of requests for assist concerning disputes and discontent from tour operators however is unable to grow to be concerned in commerce disputes or disputes between pilgrims and tour operators.
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2. Be sure you have a visa
Approved journey brokers will organize visa in addition to journey and lodging. They ship a visa utility to the Saudi consulate.
The Hijiri calendar is utilized in Saudi Arabia for all official capabilities. It’s best to fastidiously assessment the dates of your visa and be sure you know when it expires.
Umrah visas are typically legitimate for 30 days from the date of entry into Saudi Arabia. You need to depart earlier than the visa expires. The identify of the native tour operator might be printed in Arabic in your visa web page.
Ask your journey agent to let you recognize if the Saudi authorities is revising its entry necessities for Hajj and Umrah.
Hajj and Umrah visas are solely legitimate for journey to the areas of Jeddah, Makkah and Medina, and for journey between these cities. Unapproved journey outdoors of those areas might be thought-about an immigration violation and will lead to penalties.
Hajj and Umrah visas are usually not legitimate for work or residence.
Authorities officers say pilgrims who’ve practiced Hajj prior to now 5 years won’t be granted a visa, though some could also be exempted – for instance, if they’ve solely helped the devoted disabled.
Pilgrims arrive at Jiddah Airport in Saudi Arabia on Saturday August three, 2019 for this 12 months's Hajj
(Picture: AP)
three Seek the advice of the well being recommendation
At the very least eight weeks earlier than your journey, seek the advice of well being recommendation, together with really helpful vaccinations and present dangers or epidemics.
Search for well being recommendation on the TravelHealthPro web site.
Common data on journey vaccinations and a journey well being guidelines can be found on the NHS web site.
You may then contact your well being advisor or pharmacy for recommendation on different preventive measures and handle any pre-existing medical situation throughout your keep overseas.
The authorized standing and regulation of sure medicines prescribed or bought within the UK could also be totally different in different international locations.
When you're touring with prescription or over-the-counter drugs, learn these greatest follow suggestions when touring with drugs.
For extra data on the authorized standing of a selected medication, it is best to contact the embassy, excessive fee or consulate of the nation or territory you’re visiting.
four. Take these items with you
For the pilgrimage, you need to have:
an id card and bracelet issued by your Hajj journey agent a sound license to carry out the Hajj vaccination certificates – for extra data, see the Nationwide Journey Well being Community and Middle web site
Maintain your license and id card with you always.
When performing Umrah, be sure you have assured lodging and transportation in Saudi Arabia and have the contact particulars of your Saudi tour operator accessible.
This data should be offered by your UK journey agent earlier than your journey and is written (in Arabic) on the visa.
Throughout the Hajj period, the Saudi Arabian Civil Aviation Authority usually imposed restrictions on Muslim guests to Jeddah, Medina and Taif for causes aside from the Hajj pilgrimage .
Throughout this era, Muslim guests will solely be allowed to board flights to Jeddah, Madinah and Taif if they’ve a sound Hajj visa.
Muslim guests on a enterprise or visiting visa will nonetheless be capable of enter Saudi Arabia by way of different entry factors. This regulation doesn’t apply to Muslim vacationers holding a sound Saudi residence allow.
5. Don’t exceed your welcome
Don’t exceed your Hajj or Umrah visa.
Pilgrims are usually not allowed to remain in Saudi Arabia after the completion of the Hajj.
Penalties for exceeding the size of keep might embody fines amounting to 1000’s of kilos, detention pending deportation and the prohibition of return to Saudi Arabia sooner or later.
If you’re uncertain of the approved journey areas and size of keep, ask for clarification on arrival.
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6. What to do when you already reside there
British residents dwelling in Saudi Arabia who want to carry out Hajj should journey with sponsorship teams authorised by the Saudi authorities.
There are not any restrictions on when UK nationals dwelling in Saudi Arabia might carry out Umrah, except the restriction relevant to all pilgrims earlier than and through Hajj.
7. Know the foundations for pilgrims
Saudi visa guidelines require that ladies beneath the age of 45 be accompanied by a mahram (normally an in depth relative) for Hajj or Umrah.
Girls should journey with or be met by their “mahram” upon arrival in Saudi Arabia. In any other case, you may expertise important delays and / or be refused entry.
The Saudi authorities permits girls over 45 to carry out Hajj or Umrah as a part of a tour group and and not using a mahram offered they submit a notarized letter of no objection from somebody one which might be thought-about as their mahram, authorizing journeys for Hajj or Umrah with the identify group.
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eight. What to do when you have a incapacity
Individuals with disabilities needs to be ready for various requirements of accessibility and lodging to these within the UK.
For extra data on amenities for folks with disabilities, go to the web site of the Ministry of Hajj
9. Be ready for crowds, delays and warmth
Anticipate crowded terminals on the airport.
Because of the massive variety of folks handled at King Abdul-Aziz Worldwide Airport in Jeddah, disembarkation, immigration and customs processing might take a number of hours.
Anticipate a protracted wait in scorching, humid circumstances earlier than leaving the airport. Some Hajj pilgrims now fly on to Medina and journey to Mecca by highway. There is no such thing as a choice to fly to Mecca.
The Saudi authorities imposes strict schedules on Hajj teams for all journey (bus, tram and on foot) between ritual websites. All routes and modes of transportation might be extraordinarily congested. You must put together for lengthy delays.
Gentle rail trains are typically overwhelmed, with pilgrims ready a number of hours at Arafat and Muzdalifah stations on crowded platforms earlier than with the ability to board a practice. Train automobiles may also be highly regarded. Schedules and light-weight rail journey are past the management of journey businesses.
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10. Be careful for scammers
There was a rise within the variety of pickpocketing and different types of theft reported in Mecca, particularly within the area of the Grand Mosque and in Medina.
Pay particular consideration to your passport, tickets and different valuables when visiting these areas.
Make a duplicate of your passport earlier than touring (together with the pages which can be stamped along with your Saudi visa, which is able to bear the identify of your native tour operator) and preserve it in a secure place.
11. Don't take footage
Saudi authorities prohibit taking photographs (nonetheless or video, together with these taken along with your cellphone) on the Holy Mosque in Mecca or the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.
Any violation of official directions may consequence within the confiscation of your system.
12. Respect the foundations on holy water
Zamzam water, the holy water from the Zamzam properly in Mecca, is famend for its well being advantages.
Naturally, folks wish to take a few of it dwelling.
Verify along with your journey agent and airline for recommendation. Most airways restrict every traveler to a container of as much as 5 liters of Zamzam water as checked baggage.
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13. Take all of those emergency numbers with you
In Saudi Arabia:
British Consulate Common in Jeddah: Tel: 012 622 5550, Fax: 012 622 6249
British Embassy Emergency Contact: Tel: +966 5010 04268
Ministry of Hajj (Makkah): Tel: 012 557 1714; Exterior of Saudi Arabia: +966 920002814; hajcc@haj.gov.sa
Hajj Ministry Contact Middle (solely in Saudi Arabia): Tel: 8004304444
British Pilgrims Information Workplace (Makkah): Tel: +966 12 542 7003
Info on the listing of Saudi Arabia: Tel: 905
Saudi Arabia – Emergency Operations Middle: Tel: 911
If you’re making a global name, remember to use the proper nation code:
UK: 00 44 (+ quantity)
Saudi Arabia: 00966 (+ quantity)
