DIY Umrah Planner: Book Umrah Yourself

In Islam, Umrah is a voluntary pilgrimage to Makkah, which can take place at any time except during and immediately before and after the Hajj. This differentiates it from the Hajj pilgrimage itself, which is mandatory once in a lifetime for every Muslim who is able to make the journey, and takes place each year between the 8th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and final month in the Hijri calendar, the Islamic calendar.

Since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia changed its visa requirements to offer online or eVisas for Umrah, it has become possible to book Umrah independently. Most of us generally book our travel online and now we can do the same for Umrah. 'DIY Umrah' simply means that you book the individual elements yourself — flights, accommodation, transfers, visa, and even the Umrah visit itself.

Due to recent changes and new technology implemented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — including the accessibility of eVisas online and the availability of an app to book your Umrah appointment — it is no longer necessary to do Umrah through a travel agency or as part of a pre-booked package tour. It is now possible, and in fact very easy, to book and arrange all of the elements of your Umrah independently. This has removed the need to rely on a travel agency or tour operator specialising in Umrah.
This change in the process for booking Umrah has been welcomed by many pilgrims, who in the past may have found agencies to be more expensive and restrictive. Online booking platforms such as Halalbooking are an important part of this process, offering a wide choice of accommodation at competitive prices, which is perfect for those who want to book Umrah and are used to the quick and easy process of booking online.
Halalbooking makes it very easy to plan a DIY Umrah itinerary. All you need is a little research and understanding of the religious and travel guidelines and you will find it easy and stress-free to plan and book this trip of a lifetime independently.

The Saudi Arabian government's Vision 2030 programme is a national transformation project that aims to harness Saudi Arabia's economic and social benefits for a brighter future.
As part of this wide-ranging and forward-thinking programme, which includes a drive to 'strengthen Islamic values and national identity', its Doyof Al Rahman Program aims to 'serve more Umrah visitors better'. Having conducted its research on the concerns and experiences of thousands of pilgrims, it used this as the basis of a cohesive plan to improve every stage of the Umrah and Hajj journey and experience. The Saudi government's plan includes technological advances and infrastructure improvements to enable up to 30 million pilgrims to perform Hajj and Umrah annually by 2030.