Despite disruptions at some Saudi Arabian airports following recent Houthi attacks, UAE residents can still travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah by air and land.

UAE travel companies said group Umrah trips are continuing as scheduled, with Jeddah and Madinah currently serving as the main air gateways for pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia.

Although new enquiries and Umrah bookings have declined in recent days, residents planning the pilgrimage can still book air and land travel packages.

Umrah flights from the UAE: Packages from Dh2,700

According to Umrah tour operators, Saudia and flydubai are currently among the main airlines used for Umrah travel from the UAE.

Pilgrims can fly to Jeddah and continue to Makkah, or begin their journey in Madinah before travelling to Makkah.

Jassim, from Al Shammar Haj and Umrah Service, said the recent disruptions had not affected scheduled group trips or prevented the company from accepting new bookings.

“Umrah flights are operating as scheduled. Our passengers travel through Jeddah and Madinah, and we mainly use Saudia and flydubai flights for these packages,” he said.

Operators said air travel packages for Umrah start at about Dh2,700, with trips typically lasting four to five days.

The packages include visas, air tickets, hotel accommodation, meals, visits to religious sites and local transport.

Jassim said pilgrims could travel between Madinah and Makkah by bus or train after arriving in Saudi Arabia. The mode of transport depends on passenger preferences and the services included in the package.

He added that people booking Umrah through tour operators do not need to arrange visas, travel logistics or domestic transport separately, as these services are included in their packages.

Umrah by bus: Packages from Dh1,100

Travel companies continue to offer Umrah bus packages for residents seeking a more affordable option.

Shehab Parwad, from Rehan Al Jazeera Tours and Travels, said the company was preparing a bus group for next week.

Under the itinerary, the bus will depart from Sharjah, pick up passengers in Abu Dhabi and enter Saudi Arabia through the Al Ghuwaifat border crossing in the UAE and Al Batha in Saudi Arabia.

Passengers will travel first to Makkah and then to Madinah before returning to the UAE.

“Our scheduled bus trips are continuing as usual. The bus departs from Sharjah, picks up passengers in Abu Dhabi and then enters Saudi Arabia through the Al Ghuwaifat-Al Batha border crossing,” Parwad said.

He said the overland journey between the UAE and Saudi Arabia takes about 36 hours each way.

A standard overland Umrah package lasts about 10 days in total, including the return journey, around four days in Madinah and three days in Makkah.

Parwad added that border formalities do not usually take long and that essential travel services are included in the packages.

What do Umrah bus packages include?

Travel companies said overland Umrah packages start at Dh1,100, with prices varying according to the type of hotel selected.

The price includes services such as visa processing, meals, hotel accommodation, visits to religious sites, transport throughout the journey, border-crossing fees and arrangements through the Nusuk platform.

Parwad said the company’s packages start at Dh1,100 and cover the services pilgrims need, including visas, accommodation, meals, transport and pilgrimage arrangements.

Umrah package prices compared with last year

According to Parwad, current prices for overland Umrah packages are lower than the standard rates recorded in October last year.

He said standard Umrah bus packages cost between Dh1,300 and Dh1,400 in October 2025, compared with current starting prices of about Dh1,100.

However, during winter, when demand for pilgrimage travel rises, overland package prices may increase to between Dh1,700 and Dh2,000, depending on demand and the type of accommodation.

“Last October, standard packages cost around Dh1,300 to Dh1,400. During winter, increased demand can push the price to Dh1,700 or even Dh2,000,” he said.

Air or land travel: Which option is better?

For UAE residents planning to perform Umrah, the choice between air and land travel largely depends on their available time and budget.

Air packages, starting at about Dh2,700, allow pilgrims to complete their Umrah journey in four to five days.

By comparison, overland bus trips take about 10 days, but starting prices are less than half those of air packages.

Umrah tour operators said that despite recent disruptions at some Saudi airports, pilgrims continue to travel from the UAE through Jeddah and Madinah, as well as by land through the Al Ghuwaifat-Al Batha border crossing.