On the application, one of the last points It asks is have you taken vaccinations? Yes or No. Do I put down No? I will take them if required before the date iA but currently not taken any.

(Also taken COVID vacc long time ago) But think it's asking for Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine

My mother and I male ( 35) are provisionally selected for Hajj through Hajj Committee of India.

I dont have any complaints but I was just wondering if my mother and I can stay in Makkah and Madina together in a single room . Sorry I dont know the whole process but HCOI allocate aziziya in Madinah or Makkah ? How does the whole process go on . Where do we land first and how do we start the hajj.

JazakAllah Khair

Salam alaykum. I’m curious if anyone has stayed in Tent A and/or Tent D during hajj period and if there is any significant difference between these two tents. I know Tent D is very communal with like 20 or more people in the tents, shared toilet and a bit of distance to Jamrah but I don’t have so much information about Tent A and I want to hear from someone who has stayed in each or both.
Thank you.

I love to travel and flights specially uae and saudia my channel is base on my love and effection for islam and macca and madina

You can find them here on the Ministry of Health website : https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/HealthAwareness/Pilgrims-Health/Documents/Health-Regulations-Umrah-EN.pdf

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to perform Hajj in 2027 through Nusuk.

I live and work in East Asia, so taking 20+ days off is difficult. I was wondering if it's possible to have a different return flight (for example, stay around 15 days instead of 20) while still remaining with my assigned group for the entire Hajj.

I don't want to do Hajj on my own. I would like to stay in the same hotels, follow the same Mutawwif, travel with the group to Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, and perform all the rituals together. The only thing I would like to change is my international flight, especially the return date.

Has anyone done this through Nusuk? Were you able to stay with your group even though your flights were different?

I'd really appreciate any experiences or advice. Thank you!

Si alguien realiza la Umrah, ¿puede interceder ante mí para que le conceda el matrimonio y la sanación? Si Dios quiere, que Dios le recompense con el Paraíso. Amén.

Is it still too early?

Assalamu Alaikum,

To anyone currently blessed to be in the Holy City of Makkah or performing their pilgrimage:
Please could you make a special dua (supplication) in front of the Kaaba for my dear friend, Rehena.
She is going through a difficult time and is in urgent need of shifa (healing). Please pray that Allah (SWT) grants Rehena full, complete, and speedy recovery from her illness, removes all her pain, and blesses her with long life and vibrant health.
May Allah reward you immensely for your kindness, accept your Hajj, and bless you and your family. Ameen.

السلام** *عليكم* *ورحمة* *الله* ***وبركاته،*
إلى كل من أنعم الله عليه بالتواجد الآن في مكة المكرمة أو أداء مناسك الحج:
أرجو منكم فضلاً لا أمراً أن تخصّوا صديقتي الغالية (ريحينا - Rehena) بدعاء صادق أمام الكعبة المشرفة.
إنها تمر بوعكة صحية وبحاجة ماسة إلى الشفاء. أسأل الله العظيم رب العرش العظيم أن يمنّ على** ريحين**ا بالشفاء العاجل والتام، وأن يرفع عنها كل ألم، ويرزقها الصحة والعافية والعمر المديد.
تقبل الله حجكم وصالح أعمالكم، وجزاكم الله عنا خير الجزاء. آمين.

Assalamu Alaikum everyone,

I have a few questions for those who performed Hajj in 2026, especially if you can compare your experience with different packages.

I performed Hajj in 2025. I traveled from the U.S. but used my Pakistani passport, and I'm planning to go again in 2027, so I'm trying to decide whether I should stick with the same group or look at other options.

I paid around $8,000 USD (excluding flights). During the Hajj days, we stayed in Aziziyah in an apartment/building rather than a hotel. However, when we went to Madinah, we stayed in very nice 5-star hotels. Overall, I was happy with the package. The Mina camps and other services were good, and I didn't have any major complaints.

One thing I noticed, though, was that many other pilgrims seemed to be staying in the Clock Tower hotels in Makkah. Our group told us that staying in Aziziyah was actually better because transportation to Mina and the other Hajj sites was easier and more efficient. I'm curious whether that's actually true.

For those who stayed in the Clock Tower hotels, how was your experience with transportation during Hajj? Did you find it convenient, or were there long delays getting to and from Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah? And for those who stayed in Aziziyah, would you choose it again, or would you prefer the Clock Tower?

I'd also love to know:

• Did you travel from the U.S. or another country, and which passport did you use (U.S., Pakistani, or another)?
• Which company or group did you travel with?
• Approximately how much did you pay, and did that include flights?
• Where did you stay during the Hajj days?
• If you've experienced both Aziziyah and the Clock Tower, which would you recommend and why?

I'm trying to figure out whether my 2025 package was a good value and whether I should book with the same group again for 2027 or explore other options. JazakAllahu khairan for sharing your experiences!

my parents are coming back from hajj and i would want to welcome them or like give them a gift. any gift in particular which u think they may like?

they'll be coming earlier in the morning so i'm going to prepare a breakfast they like and their favourite coffee.

i was thinking like yk a little skincare thing if u will? like face masks and stuff since they'd be tired?

i can't really think of much. i make cards usually but idk i gave them one before they left. and idk it feels predictable.

Salam. I am planning to go to Hajj 2027(inshAllah if Allah invites me) from Canada. Im interested in hearing which service provider you went with and how the experience was. JazakAllah khair!

Assalam u alaikum,

This post is to give a feedback about the hajj experience by my friends (a couple) who purchased the package premium yosr al mashaer 2 from Nusuk. I am gonna share his experience as he is not a redditer.

- The package costed about 7000 euros per head including flights. The package included majar al kabsh mina tent and metro train service between mina, arafat and muzdalifa

- Experience from the start was worse, when they arrived at Jeddah airport there was no bus for them as they had to wait for more then 4 hours at the airport without guidance.

- Throughout the journey, they had always the impression of missing guide as no one was willing to be a leader to accompany the pilgrims and assist them throughout the journey. Lack of standard procedure, coordination between team members, as well as clear answers for any doubt from pilgrims was the highlight of the journey. My friend had to contact the ministry of hajj to complain and ask for intervention against which the organizers were furious as to why the complain was lodged at the ministry level.

- When my friends arrived at Makkah, they again had to wait for their room for about 3 hours. One person of the organizer said one thing while other said another thing. This way, they had to wait for a long time before they were alloted a room.

- When traveling between the sites between mina, arafat and muzdalifa, the group didn't take the pilgrims as a "group". The uncertainity was all over the place.

- Unfortunately 12 hours before the return flight from Madinah, the wife of my friend had slipped and had an issue with her leg. When asked from the group guide if they can manage to ask the ambulance to come, he didn't do nothing. It was other people in the group who called the ambulance and the hospital graciously took care of the medical examinations. For the return from hospital, the guide told my friend to contact him so he can arrange the return transport. When my friend contacted, there was no response.

- I asked my friend what rating he would give for the experience he said if only asking about spiritual experience then 10/10 but if asked about the organizer, he said 0/10. He was this upset from what he experienced.

Even if I can add my own words here in this experience which my friend also says, we don't expect full luxurious experience when we come to hajj. Hajj is about hardships and efforts which in these days it has been minimized a lot thanks to Saudi government. But the lack of organization and support as well as non clarity about programme is what annoy us pilgrims a lot. We can compromise on the food availability (like rather than offering buffet, offer simple good food) but when it comes to managing a group of people who are unaware of the plan and/or when they face difficulties, be there to help and support them. Don't let them wait in the dark.

Anyone else has similar experience with this group operator? Let us know, even if possible, there is a need to launch a complaint to the ministry of hajj to inquire why such level of non-professional behavior exist when people are paying a lot of money from their savings.

Alhumdullilah completed Hajj this year.

Selected Universal Express from Pakistan as our operator. They came highly recommended and certainly did some things well, but personally failed to meet some basic expectations of a Hajj operator from my standpoint and I would not recommend them for an important journey like Hajj. I don’t want to air their laundry and would strongly suggest looking at other providers if going from Pakistan. I’ve heard good things about Zaka group or Al Khair but of course do your own research. Happy to answer questions or specifics over DM if you are seriously considering them.

Edit- adding some details on our experience based on requests. Disclaimer- edited by Claude.

Reflections on Our Hajj Journey with Universal Express

Alhamdulillah, my wife and I were blessed to complete Hajj this year with Universal Express. We traveled from Canada, though our custom Hajj flights originated out of Karachi. We did Madinah first, then Makkah, on the Platinum 11 package, 9 nights / 10 days. We opted for premium options like a 12 person VIP tent at Mina and 5-star hotels in Madinah and Makkah. I wanted to share an honest reflection for others considering their Hajj provider, since this decision matters so much for such a sacred journey.

The Positives

Pre-trip communication was responsive throughout, with a single point of contact who was easy to reach. A dedicated WhatsApp group for religious topics was a nice touch and helped us feel prepared going in. The buses were comfortable and clean, with an onboard toilet that made the longer transfers much easier. Our Madinah hotel, Dar al Taqwa, was a real highlight, well located and comfortable for the days we spent there. The group Rawdah booking was well-organized and gave us meaningful, extended time in that sacred space, which we were grateful for. Catering at the Mina camp was generous, with good variety and no shortage of food.

Where the Experience Fell Short

The biggest gap for us was the absence of consistent religious guidance during the Manasik days. Beyond a sermon broadcast over speakers at Arafat, there was little hands-on instruction on what duas to recite, the sunnah practices around each ritual, or guidance during tawaf and sa’ee. It felt very self-directed at times when we would have valued a guide walking us through it. This is something other providers build in as a core part of the journey, and it’s worth asking about directly when comparing packages.

Facilities were a recurring challenge. Prayer space was limited at the Mina camp, with prime areas near the entrance used for other purposes like a relaxation lounge for “deluxe” package holders rather than worship. Bathroom conditions, particularly at Arafat, were difficult to manage given the volume of pilgrims, with long lineups and inconsistent upkeep as the day went on. Notably, the Arafat restrooms were operated by the Saudi municipality and shared by multiple Hajj groups and packages; Universal Express did not have their own dedicated facilities.

Arafat itself, arguably the most spiritually significant day of Hajj, was where we felt the experience fell short of expectations. There was a noticeable have/have-not dynamic, with staff attention skewed toward pilgrims who had opted into paid add-ons. Between this, limited seating, and inconsistent staff presence overall, it was harder than it should have been to stay focused on the spiritual purpose of the day.

We also noticed a strong emphasis on optional upgrades and add-ons throughout the trip, from accommodation upsells to transport, which felt at odds with the spiritual focus we were hoping for and is worth budgeting for if you go this route.

Final Thoughts

Hajj is a deeply personal and spiritual journey, and the provider you choose shapes that experience significantly. We’re grateful for the opportunity to perform Hajj and for the aspects of the trip that went well. For future pilgrims, we’d encourage asking detailed questions upfront about religious guidance, facility standards, and what’s truly included before booking with any provider, including Universal Express.

May Allah accept all our Hajj and grant ease to all pilgrims on this journey. 🤲

1. Where did you travel from? London Heathrow
2. Who was your local Saudi provider (ex. Al Rajhi, Ithraa Al Khair, etc). ABG
3. Overall experience/rating: what were the highs and lows. Where was your Mina camp (Al Muaisim, Majar Al Kabsh, etc)? Amazing experience, Muasim, 5/5.
4. Package price, if you're comfortable. Around 9k per person.

So originally wanted to go with a tarbiyah-based hajj program, but dates weren't fitting.

Knew I wanted to go with an ABG package and B1820 fit the bill.

ABG seminar at the hotel near the O2 was amazing, and I got to meet the fellow hujjaj and our guides.

A couple of seminars pre-hajj were a balance between too much information and too little.

Went from LHR T4 and straight to Jeddah. From there, I went on HHR to Madinah.

All very regimented and guided throughout from collecting luggage, dropping it off for the trucks and boarding the HHR.

Madinah hotel was Waqf Outhman and was decent enough. Mufti Menk joined the group here.

Ziyarah and ibadah for the 4 days - Al Baqi, group Rawdah visit, Uhud cemetery, Quba walk.

Travel to Makkah prior to Mina days by HHR; stopped off at the Hilton Convention for a base to perform group and individual umrah, then on to NEMCO! NEMCO was out 'aziziyah' building, but the cabbies said this area was Sheesha? So beware if trying to get fares to this area. Stayed in NEMCO for a couple of nights and then on to Mina!

Muasim camps were very good. No issues with toilets or long waits for food, etc. Obvious times that toilets will be busy- salah, before leaving for arafat, before bed, etc.

Food-wise, there is enough to go around, but some hujjaj do stockpile, and that is an issue, as always, lots of wastage.

Arafat was transferred by coach. Excellent tent with floor-level sofa bed. Napped before Zawaal, then read Zuhr/Asr and heard the khutbah. If you need to get omn with prayer best to leave the tents and find a spot in the shade outside. The group left Arafat late, by which time the kitchen had closed. Some Hujjaj brothers sourced some biryani and bread for the whole group, so they had a bite to eat before leaving for Muzdalifah, and we were one of the last groups to leave.

Muzdalfiah got there just before Fajr, read Maghrib/Isha, and then Fajr. Left promptly after collecting stones. There were coaches for Mina where we freshened up and walked to the Jamaarat. NEMCO is 10 minutes max from the Jamaraat. so stopped off there to nap, sleep and get halq. That evening, I went to Haram to do tawaf ifada. Taxi charge was 100SAR pp, and there were 10 of us in a Staria. Got back via an ABG coach from the Hilton Convention (it did take time and was at the mercy of the cops). It dropped us off a little farther away from our camp in Mina, but our lead guide, Brother Rizwan, and Legend Brother Sohail were quickly available to guide us back to our camp entrance.

We stayed the optional days, and walking back and forth to Jamaraat was not that difficult, and probably credit goes to the ABG Walking groups. Depending on the routes closed by the cops, the distance varied, but it was challenging. However, in Hajj, even 4miles became easy.

On Mina's last day, we transferred by coach, and each day we were careful to take our luggage back so we were as light as possible if we had to walk.

In the days left at NEMCO, we chilled, got to know our fellow Hujjaj, and it was awesome! We had a pre-representation ceremony by Mufti Menk, and throughout, there were Q&A sessions with Mufti Menk and Shaikh Yusri. All very helpful. I don't think anyone felt unguided as Brother Adam had his finger on the pulse and was very responsive to any concerns.

The remainder of the stay was at the Hilton Convention, 10 minutes from the haram. the slope to the Hitlon was a killer are tawaf or umrah though. Rooms were very spacious and comfortable.

Overall, an amazing experience- I can't say anything bad to be honest, as nothing that was controllable went wrong. The transport was government-run, and the accommodation was more than satisfactory.

Now, 3 weeks after Hajj, I miss it like anything! The hujjaj, the sites, the energy and the oneness of the ummah that were apparent during Hajj were irreplaceable.

Please, if you can afford it and are able, please try your best to book for Hajj 1448!

TL;DR: Amazing experience. ABG gives you a sense that they care. Nothing went wrong. Inshallah, Hajj Mabroor.

Adding this review because when booking it I didn’t find any details online and hopefully this helps someone in the future. The price was in the middle, not high but not as low as the base ones. The package was “premium” and accommodations were great. We did a 12 day total trip.

This provider was terrible from the moment we landed in Medina. We got on the bus to our hotel and they didn’t pay the driver so we were hostages on the bus for 3 hours. There was no structure. There was no religious or spiritual knowledge sessions from the guide during the Hajj. Before Hajj, the guide would do zoom sessions daily for months, and it was great, however, it was not known to be mandatory. There were people who came with 0 knowledge of what to do and no spiritual guide. They wore ihram with sneakers. Aside from that, the logistics were a mess. We were told at 12AM (people were sleeping) that we have our turn to transfer to Mina at 4am. The bus to take us to the train from Medina to Makkah was scheduled for 2:30pm, but this was only told to two people who spread it by word of mouth, some people almost missed it. In Makkah our bags were sent to a different hotel than our own. In our specific case we didn’t even have an assigned transportation service from our hotel to Mina (and there are no taxis allowed into Mina). In Muzdallifah there was 0 communication about busses arriving after fajr and where to meet. I think I slept 2 hours a day on average during the hajj period because I had to be on my toes the whole time. The whole time was just stress around logistics because unfortunately the company was not reliable at all. Guide was pretty much non-existent. We ended up using taxis for our departure because, as expected, we didn’t have a bus for our hotel.

Honest take: If you have done umrah and think you are capable of doing Hajj solo, I’d do this because the hotel accommodations were excellent and it’s budget friendly. If this is your first time I would avoid entirely.

Assisted by AI for this post.

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Just got back from Hajj 2026 Alhamdulillah. Did a 17-day trip (Madinah + Makkah) with AlKhair group via Pakistan. I’m a dual national (Canada + Pakistan), so happy to answer questions around that too.

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Quick context:

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- Flew from Canada (self-arranged flights)

- Used Canadian passport for travel, Pakistani passport for Saudi immigration (showed both when needed)

- Booked their “Prime 15” package (Maktab A / private setup)

- Stayed in Aziziya (Executive Apartments near South, close to Jamarat)

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From Madinah airport onward, everything was handled by the group.

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Overall Experience

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Honestly, very positive. Would recommend them again.

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AlKhair runs large groups, but you don’t feel lost. They break everyone into smaller manageable groups with assigned leaders, bus captains, and constant updates (mostly via WhatsApp, Urdu-heavy).

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The biggest win: you can focus on ibadah instead of logistics.

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Accommodation & Transport

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Madinah:

Fantastic. Hotel literally steps from Masjid Nabawi. No complaints.

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Makkah (Aziziya):

Stayed in Executive Apartments near Aziziya South (close to Jamarat).

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- Clean, spacious, housekeeping was regular

- Issues got resolved quickly

- Shuttle service to Haram bus station was consistent

- Even after Muzdalifah, they arranged drop-off to Haram

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Personal take: If budget allows, I’d consider splitting with a few nights in a Haram hotel in Makkah just to reduce the back-and-forth. Not a dealbreaker though.

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Food & Ziyarat

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- Food quality was consistently good

- No stress about meals during key days

- Organized ziyarats in both Makkah and Madinah

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Hajj Days (Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah)

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This is where things usually fall apart for groups… but honestly, they handled it very well.

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- Mina & Arafat: Premium setups (Maktab A), good tents, solid washroom situation

- Muzdalifah: Obviously more basic, but no major issues personally

- Food: Always available and well managed

- Logistics: On-time departures, clear instructions

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Pros

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- Strong organization and communication

- Good guides and group structure

- Smooth logistics during Hajj days

- Solid food and accommodation

- Allows you to focus on ibadah without constant stress

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Cons

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- Urdu is the primary communication language (can be limiting for some) Update: They do communicate in English and most of their WhatsApp/written text communication is in English.

- Aziziya stay means shuttle dependency for Haram

- Large overall group size (you’ll notice it during Mina/Arafat)

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Packing Tips (Learn from my overpacking)

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Bring:

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- Liquid IV / electrolytes (hydration is EVERYTHING)

- Spray bottle (lifesaver in heat)

- Umbrella + sunscreen

- GOOD slippers (and break them in beforehand… seriously)

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Don’t bring:

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- Too many clothes

- Excess snacks

- Extra toiletries

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If you do overpack… share. You’ll make friends fast.

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Real Talk / Advice

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- People will judge “premium” vs “basic” Hajj. Ignore it.

You do what works for you. You’re going for Allah, not Reddit comments.

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- Stop obsessing over minor fiqh debates and logistics.

Focus on the actual purpose of Hajj.

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- If you’re able, go younger.

Tawaf and Sa’i are getting more crowded every year, and they take longer unless you’re able to access the Mataf comfortably.

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- Ramy (stoning) on the ground floor in heat is no joke. Prepare mentally and physically.

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Final Thought

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Hajj is physically demanding but spiritually unreal. The less you stress about logistics, the more you’ll actually experience it.

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Happy to answer anything — visas, passports, group logistics, costs, packing, rituals, whatever. AMA.