Quick answer
Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin around Monday 8 February 2027, subject to moon sighting, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 March. For Ramadan Umrah 2027 from Pakistan, choose your dates and operator by December, get vaccinated in January, and have the visa issued no more than 30 days before you fly. The Ministry's last visa issue date is 9 March 2027.
In this guideShow
- When is Ramadan 2027?
- What are the official Umrah season deadlines?
- How does the 30-day visa rule affect Ramadan Umrah?
- Which part of Ramadan should you choose?
- A month-by-month booking timeline from Pakistan
- Nusuk permits in Ramadan: what to expect
- Can you do i'tikaf in Masjid al-Haram or Masjid an-Nabawi?
- Health and practical tips for Ramadan Umrah
- Common mistakes to avoid
- How Sky Raah can help
- Official sources
Umrah in Ramadan is the trip many Pakistani families save for over years. It is also the hardest Umrah to plan: the dates depend on the moon, visas now expire 30 days after issue, and hotels near the Haram fill months ahead. This guide sets out the expected dates for Ramadan Umrah 2027 from Pakistan, the official deadlines, and a month-by-month timeline from now until you fly.
It is written for first-time and returning pilgrims, and for anyone arranging the trip for parents. All dates are as of October 2026. Ramadan dates are estimates until the moon is sighted.
When is Ramadan 2027?
Ramadan 1448 AH is expected to begin on or around Monday 8 February 2027. That is the date given by Saudi Arabia's Umm al-Qura calendar, but the Kingdom confirms the start only after the crescent moon is sighted, so it can move by a day.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's 1448 AH season calendar places 1 Shawwal 1448 (Eid al-Fitr) on 9 March 2027. Putting the two together, the expected picture is:
| Period | Expected dates (subject to moon sighting) |
|---|---|
| 1 Ramadan 1448 | Monday 8 February 2027 |
| First ten days | 8–17 February |
| Middle ten days | 18–27 February |
| Last ten nights begin | Evening of Saturday 27 February |
| 27th night | Evening of Friday 5 March |
| Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal) | Tuesday 9 March 2027 |
If Ramadan starts a day later, or lasts 30 days, every date above shifts. Pakistan's moon-sighting committee may also announce Ramadan a day after Saudi Arabia, so your fasts at home and in Makkah may not match. Leave a day of flexibility either side of key dates, especially the 27th night.
What are the official Umrah season deadlines?
Ramadan falls near the end of the 1448 AH Umrah season, so the Ministry's deadlines matter more than usual:
| Milestone | Hijri date | Gregorian date |
|---|---|---|
| Last day Umrah visas are issued | 1 Shawwal 1448 | 9 March 2027 |
| Last day pilgrims can enter Saudi Arabia | 15 Shawwal 1448 | 23 March 2027 |
| Last day pilgrims must leave Saudi Arabia | 30 Shawwal 1448 | 7 April 2027 |
These season dates override your visa. Even if your visa allows a longer stay, you must leave by 7 April 2027.
How does the 30-day visa rule affect Ramadan Umrah?
Since November 2025, an Umrah visa must be used within 30 days of the date it is issued, or it is cancelled automatically. The Saudi Gazette reported the change on 30 October 2025, and we explain it fully in our Umrah visa and Nusuk guide.
For Ramadan this means you cannot get your visa in December and relax. Your operator should apply only once your flights are fixed, and within the 30-day window before you fly.
| If you plan to arrive on… | Visa should be issued no earlier than about… |
|---|---|
| 8 February (start of Ramadan) | 9 January 2027 |
| 18 February (middle ten days) | 19 January 2027 |
| 27 February (last ten nights) | 28 January 2027 |
The stay after arrival is a separate rule. The Ministry's FAQ says the stay on an Umrah visa is 90 days, but the season departure deadline of 7 April applies first.
Which part of Ramadan should you choose?
There is no single right answer. It depends on your family, your health and your budget.
First ten days
Usually the calmest part of Ramadan. Hotels are easier to find, crowds are lighter, and it suits elderly parents or families with young children.
Middle ten days
A balance between atmosphere and comfort. Many working pilgrims choose this window because it fits a 10 to 14-day leave.
Last ten nights
The most sought-after period, because Muslims seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights. It is also when crowds are at their heaviest, especially on the odd nights. Expect long waits, full prayer areas and very limited hotel choice.
A month-by-month booking timeline from Pakistan
This timeline is our practical advice from planning Ramadan trips, not an official schedule.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| November 2026 | Decide which part of Ramadan you want and how long you will stay. Check every traveller's passport has at least 6 months' validity from your return date. Shortlist operators attested by the Ministry of Religious Affairs |
| December 2026 | Choose your operator and package. Pay by bank transfer to the company account and keep a written agreement. Ask for hotel names and distance from the Haram in writing |
| Early January 2027 | Confirm flights. Book meningitis and polio vaccinations; meningitis must be at least 10 days before arrival. See our Umrah vaccination requirements guide |
| January (inside the 30-day window) | Submit documents; your operator applies for the visa |
| As soon as the visa is issued | Register on Nusuk and book Umrah and Rawdah permits for your dates |
| One week before | Download your NADRA vaccination certificate, print documents and pack |
Passport renewals can take longer than expected in the new year, so do not leave that step until January.
Nusuk permits in Ramadan: what to expect
Every pilgrim needs an Umrah permit booked through the Nusuk app for a specific date and time. The Ministry says entry to the Haram for Umrah is tied to your permit time, but you can pray in the mosque at any time.
Ramadan adds extra limits:
- One Umrah in Ramadan. Arab News reported in March 2023 that the Ministry stated pilgrims were "only permitted to perform the ritual once during Ramadan". Gulf News reported in March 2025 that the Ministry urged visitors to perform Umrah only once in the last ten days.
- Slots fill fast. Book your permit as soon as your visa is issued and your dates are fixed.
- Arrive on time. The Ministry's FAQ says only one active permit is allowed at a time, and a permit can be cancelled in the app before it starts.
The Ramadan 1448 rules had not been announced as of October 2026. Check the Nusuk app and Ministry announcements in January.
Rawdah in Madinah
You need a separate permit to pray in the Rawdah. The Ministry's FAQ now gives the interval between Rawdah visits as 30 days. Ramadan slots are scarce, so book as soon as you can.
Can you do i'tikaf in Masjid al-Haram or Masjid an-Nabawi?
I'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque, usually in the last ten days) at the two Holy Mosques needs registration with the General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. For Ramadan 1447 (2026), news reports said registration opened in the first days of Ramadan on the Authority's e-services portal and closed once places were full.
If i'tikaf is your main reason for travelling, plan your stay around it but do not assume a place. Watch the Authority's announcements from late January.
Health and practical tips for Ramadan Umrah
- Pace yourself. Many pilgrims perform Umrah soon after arriving, then focus on prayer. You do not need to do everything on the first night.
- Plan around iftar and suhoor. Your hotel's meal times and the walk to and from the Haram shape your day.
- Elderly parents: the Saudi Ministry of Health requires COVID-19 vaccination proof for pilgrims over 65 and those with listed chronic conditions. Use wheelchairs or electric carts, which the Ministry says can be rented through the Tanaqul app.
- Medicines: carry enough for the trip in original packaging. Ask your doctor how to time medicines around fasting.
- Pick a meeting point with your group. Phones can lose signal in packed areas during taraweeh.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Getting the visa too early. A visa issued more than 30 days before your flight will be cancelled.
- Booking flights on the exact expected Eid date with no buffer for a moon-sighting change.
- Assuming a second Umrah permit will be available in Ramadan.
- Late meningitis vaccination, less than 10 days before arrival.
- Booking the last ten nights with elderly parents without checking how far the hotel is from the Haram.
- Paying an unattested agent in cash. Use a company on the Ministry of Religious Affairs list and pay by bank transfer.
How Sky Raah can help
Sky Raah Travels plans Ramadan Umrah packages from Lahore, including flights, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, visa timing within the 30-day window and help with Nusuk permits. Because Ramadan hotels fill early, we suggest starting the conversation in November or December. You may also find our step-by-step guide to performing Umrah useful before you travel.
Official sources
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: 1448 AH Umrah season calendar
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: FAQ
- Nusuk: official pilgrim platform
- Saudi Ministry of Health: Health Requirements for Umrah – 1447H
- General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque: e-services (i'tikaf registration)
- Supporting news reports: Arab News, March 2023; Gulf News, March 2025
Ramadan dates depend on moon sighting, and Ramadan permit rules are announced each year. Confirm the latest details with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Nusuk app before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When exactly does Ramadan 2027 start?
Saudi Arabia's Umm al-Qura calendar places 1 Ramadan 1448 on Monday 8 February 2027, but the official start is confirmed only after the crescent moon is sighted, so it may move by a day. Pakistan's start date can also differ from Saudi Arabia's. Plan your flights with a day's flexibility either side.
Can I perform more than one Umrah in Ramadan?
In recent Ramadans the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has limited or discouraged repeat Umrahs. Arab News reported in 2023 that pilgrims were permitted only one Umrah during Ramadan, and Gulf News reported in 2025 that the Ministry urged one Umrah only in the last ten days. The 1448 rules had not been announced as of October 2026, so check Nusuk nearer the time.
Can I stay in Makkah for Eid al-Fitr 2027?
Yes, as long as your visa allows it and you leave by the season deadline. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah says all Umrah pilgrims must leave Saudi Arabia by 7 April 2027 (30 Shawwal 1448). Eid is expected around 9 March, which leaves time, but your own visa and package dates also apply.
Do I have to fast while performing Umrah in Ramadan?
Islamic law allows travellers to delay fasts and make them up later, and many scholars apply this to pilgrims on the journey. Once you settle in Makkah or Madinah, scholars differ on when the travel concession ends. Ask a scholar for your situation, and speak to your doctor if you are elderly or have a medical condition.
Is Ramadan Umrah more expensive?
Ramadan, and especially the last ten nights, is the busiest period of the Umrah year, so hotels near the Haram and flights from Pakistan are in high demand. Prices are usually much higher than in other months, and the closest hotels sell out first. Booking early gives you more choice.
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Written by
Visa & Umrah consultants, Lahore
The Sky Raah Travels team prepares visit visa files and Umrah bookings for Pakistani travellers from our Lahore office.
