It is often searched on the internet by first-time pilgrims and other Muslims about how long it actually takes to perform Umrah or if a single day is enough to perform Umrah? The question involves the interest and the religious concerns of the Muslims. They don’t just ask this because of curiosity but also because they want to schedule it according to the ongoing circumstances related to them. These circumstances include financial ups and downs, working hurdles, mental and physical conditions, holidays etc. The real answer to the question asked in the title is “yes, it is not only possible to perform Umrah in a day but it’s a matter of just a few hours”. Let’s break it into the time intervals:
Average Time Taken By Umrah Rituals
An average of 4-6 hours is taken by all the rituals of Umrah, depending on different factors like crowd density, moment speed, etc. Here is the explanation of the time taken by every ritual:
Ihram
Ihram is a state of purity and it is declared before entering the Miqat boundary, which is outside of Makkah city. Ihram has a specific dress for men but it’s all done before entering Makkah city. It takes 20 to 60 minutes in Ghusl and Ihram. And it takes 1-3 hours to reach the hotel room in Makkah.
Tawaf
Tawaf is a seven-time circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba. Tawaf can take half an hour to 2.5 hours. It has different factors affecting the calculation of the actual time taken. These factors include the circumference of each round, crowd density, and the number of floors on which you are performing Tawaf, time of Tawaf and your physical health.
If you are performing Tawaf on the ground in the peak season, you are facing a big crowd, it will not be easy to move and you will be able to move very slowly. If you have some serious health issues or you move through a wheelchair, try performing Tawaf on the upper floors. It’s comparatively safe and quicker. And if it’s an off-peak season, less crowded and if you cover a smaller circumference, it will surely take less.
Sa’i
Sa’i involves walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa. It usually takes 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete seven walks between these small hills.
Halq/Taqseer
It takes 10-20 minutes to shave off your head or trim your hair.
What’s your Choice?
As it takes different durations according to the ongoing circumstances, to perform Umrah. You may select your choice below:
Early Exit
If you have a lot of pending stuff to do back in the UK, and you have just 3-4 days for travelling and Umrah, you can apply for a transit or a waiver visa to perform Umrah. But you must have at least 3 days in order to manage your movement and time free of mental stress.
Detailed Visit
If you don’t have a work burden and you want to visit most spiritual and historic sites in Saudi Arabia, especially in Makkah and Madinah, purchase a waiver visa or a 7 or 10 day Umrah package and book your transport for your movements between the cities.
Minimum Budget or Easy Movements
If you don’t have a “big budget”, any health issues or you want your movements at ease, you should select an off-peak Umrah season like the months after Dhul-Hijjah or April to August. It is also notable that this May (in 2026) is the month of Hajj and you can’t go for Umrah during the season of Hajj. If you are facing some serious health issues, then avoid going on this journey during the summer.
Spiritual Preference: Umrah in Ramadan
If you want to earn extra rewards and more chances of forgiveness from Allah. And if you are able to perform Umrah in a big, crowded area, Ramadan is the best option for you. As the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Perform Umrah in Ramadan, it is equivalent to Hajj (in rewards)” (Sahih Bukhari 1782) (Sahih Muslim 1256). Umrah in Ramadan costs more and you should be physically fit.
Useful Tips for Smooth Movements
If you want to move smoothly and complete Umrah earlier, follow these useful tips:
- Don’t overload yourself and just put the necessary things in your luggage when packing.
- Set your arrival at night for a smooth movement, particularly during the peak seasons.
- Take a direct flight to save your time and energy.
- Perform Umrah at night from 1:00 am to 5:00 am to avoid the big crowd during Tawaf.
- It is also easy to perform Tawaf on the upper floors during the higher crowds. Wheelchairs also move on the upper floors.
- Don’t bring too much stuff during Tawaf and Sai.
- Don’t engage in a battle of words or a fight; it is forbidden in the state of Ihram.
- Don’t travel in heavy traffic, or you may get stuck in a traffic jam.
- Keep yourself hydrated during the whole journey.
- If it's your first time, hire a guide for you. You can add a guide to your Umrah package when booking.
- If you are performing Umrah with your family, use smartphones to communicate with each other.
Conclusion
It takes 3-6 hours to perform Umrah, depending on the available circumstances, like crowd density, season, time, etc. If you want to perform Umrah in a less crowded place, earlier and quicker, you should perform it during an off-peak period. If you want to earn more rewards and more chances to be forgiven by Allah, Ramadan is the best option for you because Umrah during Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj (in rewards). May Allah accept all your worship. Ameen!
