First Umrah? Vaccinations, Ihram, Nusuk and a Packing List

Elijah Tours Team September 10, 2026 8 min read

The first Umrah is emotional, and the last thing you want on the day is to be worrying about a certificate or a phone app. This checklist is the one we send every group; it covers the practical side so you can give your attention to the journey itself.

Before you fly

Passport valid for six months beyond your return, with two blank pages. Meningococcal (ACWY) vaccination certificate, issued at least ten days before travel and within its validity period. Polio vaccination certificate, which Pakistani immigration checks for all travellers to Saudi Arabia. Both are available at district health offices and major hospitals; keep the originals with your passport.

Install the Nusuk app and complete your profile using the passport details on your visa. Rawdah permits and, in busy periods, Umrah permits are issued through it; we book the group's slots, but the app must be on your own phone.

Ihram and the miqat

Men wear two unstitched white sheets; women wear ordinary modest clothing with the face uncovered. On flights into Jeddah the miqat is crossed in the air, so men change into ihram at the airport in Pakistan or on board before the announcement, and everyone makes the intention at that point. Groups landing in Madinah first enter ihram at Dhul Hulaifah on the way to Makkah.

Carry a small bag with a spare ihram, unscented soap, a belt with a zipped pocket and slippers you can walk in for hours.

Arrival to the first tawaf

The group leader meets you after immigration, and the coach takes you to the hotel to leave luggage. Most first-timers rest for an hour, then walk to the Haram together for the Umrah itself: tawaf, two rak'ahs at Maqam Ibrahim, Zamzam, sa'i between Safa and Marwah, and the cutting of hair. Allow three to four hours at a gentle pace.

Packing list

Comfortable walking shoes and slippers, a light shawl for air-conditioned halls, a refillable bottle, a folding prayer mat, a power bank, any regular medication with its prescription, a small amount of Saudi riyals for the first day, and copies of your passport and visa separate from the originals. Leave heavy luggage space free: Zamzam water is allowed as checked baggage on most airlines from Jeddah and Madinah.