Umrah in April 2027:
Season Closed

Can you perform Umrah in April 2027?

No. Under the official 1448 Umrah season calendar published by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, new Umrah pilgrims cannot enter the Kingdom after 23 March 2027, and anyone already there on an Umrah visa must leave by 7 April 2027. We therefore have no April packages, and we would advise caution about any offer that claims otherwise.

This is not a matter of availability or price. It is a fixed annual pause while Makkah prepares for Hajj, and it applies to every travel company and every pilgrim on an Umrah visa.

The official closing dates

So the first week of April is only relevant to pilgrims who arrived before 23 March and are finishing their stay. From 8 April onwards there are no Umrah pilgrims on Umrah visas in the Kingdom at all until the new season begins.

Why Saudi Arabia pauses Umrah before Hajj

Hajj brings very large numbers of pilgrims to Makkah, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah over a few days, and the authorities clear the calendar beforehand to manage accommodation, transport and permits. The UK government’s own entry guidance also warns that people who are not performing Hajj may be stopped from flying into Jeddah, Madinah and Taif during the Hajj period.

For British pilgrims this means the Umrah year effectively runs from early summer to late March. April and May are the two months each year when an Umrah package simply cannot be sold.

Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the closure moves about 11 days earlier every year in Gregorian terms. In 2027 it happens to swallow the whole Easter break; in future years the gap will fall in different places, so it is worth checking the season calendar each time rather than assuming last year’s pattern.

Easter holidays 2027: why families cannot go

The closure hits families hardest, because the spring school holidays fall almost entirely after the cut-off.

• Birmingham City Council: Easter holidays 26 March to 11 April 2027, starting three days after the last entry date.
• City of Edinburgh Council: Good Friday 26 March, Easter Monday 29 March, then the spring holiday from Monday 5 to Monday 19 April.
• Glasgow (indicative): Good Friday and Easter Monday, then a spring break from 5 to 16 April.

Our Easter Umrah page covers this in more detail. In short, a family Umrah over Easter 2027 is not possible; the nearest school-holiday options are the February half-term, which falls during Ramadan, and the summer break.

What to book instead

Go earlier: March 2027

If April was your plan because of work or family timing, moving the trip forward into March is the closest alternative. After Eid al-Fitr (expected 9 March) departures return to standard prices from £625 (3★), £725 (4★) and £895 (5★) per person, four sharing, including flights, visa, hotels and transfers. The catch is that your visa must be issued by 9 March, so you need to book during February.

Already travelling in late March?

If you arrive close to the 23 March deadline, your stay can run into the first days of April, as long as you leave on or before 7 April. A 14-night package entering on 20 March, for example, would return on 3 April. We plan these trips with a day or two of margin so that a delayed or rescheduled flight does not push you past the last departure date. Pilgrims who fly with a connection through Istanbul should allow a little extra, as a missed connection is harder to rebook in a hurry.

These late-season trips can also be a good choice for parents who want a short break before the Easter holidays begin at home, travelling while the children are still at school with grandparents or relatives.

Go later: June or July 2027

The next season, 1449, has not yet been announced. Going by precedent (the 1448 season began on 14 Dhul Hijjah, straight after Hajj), it is expected to reopen around late May or June 2027. We will confirm dates as soon as the Ministry publishes them. Our June packages start from the same £625 / £725 / £895, while July starts from £685, £795 and £975 and lines up with the start of the summer holidays; families can also look at our summer Umrah packages.

A word on the weather

Even if the season were open, April is when the heat returns in earnest. Makkah averages a high of 39.0°C and a low of 25.1°C, and Madinah 35.5°C and 21.7°C. Pilgrims who had hoped for spring sunshine should know that a March trip will be cooler, and June or July hotter still, so plan your packing and hotel choice accordingly; in the summer heat, a 4-star or 5-star hotel close to the Haram makes a real difference.

Using April to get ready for summer

A closed month is a good time to prepare. A few things are worth doing while you wait for the new season dates:

1. Check passports: each one needs at least six months’ validity from your arrival date, and renewals take time.
2. Plan the meningitis ACWY vaccine. It must be given at least 10 days before you arrive; a conjugate certificate lasts five years, so a jab from a previous trip may still be valid.
3. Keep an eye on flights. Saudia’s Birmingham–Jeddah route is suspended, with 1 April 2027 the earliest possible restart; until a restart is confirmed, our Birmingham packages fly via Istanbul. Pilgrims from Birmingham can follow updates with us.
4. Register your interest. Tell us your preferred summer dates now and we will come back to you as soon as the new season is confirmed.

Whenever you do travel, check the Foreign Office’s latest advice for Saudi Arabia first, as it can affect what your travel insurance will cover.

Plan your next Umrah with us

You can compare every month on our Umrah packages by month page. To be first in line for June and July dates, or to squeeze in a March trip before the deadline, use our quote form or message us on WhatsApp.