Umrah from Baghdad
What pilgrims leaving from Baghdad need to know: the flight, the visa route for Iraqis, the season and a realistic budget.
Flying from Baghdad
Baghdad has a long-established Umrah travel trade, and Baghdad International Airport runs nonstop flights to Jeddah and Madinah on Iraqi Airways and Saudia, with capacity expanding around Ramadan given strong demand from Iraq's large Muslim population. Iraq's Umrah sector is coordinated partly through government religious affairs offices for official arrangements, with private agencies handling most individual bookings, so check an operator's registration before paying a deposit. The Iraqi dinar is used locally, alongside widespread use of US dollars for larger transactions including travel bookings, so confirm which currency your agent expects. Baghdad's climate is extremely hot and dry in summer with mild winters, broadly similar in character to Saudi Arabia's, which can ease the climate adjustment compared to pilgrims from colder regions. Given the importance of religious travel in Iraq, including significant Shia pilgrimage traffic to other sites, make sure any agent you book with specifically arranges Sunni Umrah trips to Makkah and Madinah. Book well ahead of Ramadan.
Umrah visa for Iraqis
Iraq is not on Saudi Arabia's eVisa list, so Iraqis normally cannot self-apply online for Umrah. The route is a licensed Umrah company, or an external agent contracted through Nusuk Masar, which books the visa with an approved hotel and transport package as one file, not a visa alone. It must be used within 30 days of issue, so confirm dates with the operator first. Holders of a valid, used US, UK or Schengen visa, or GCC residents, may instead qualify for the eVisa or visa-on-arrival route, so ask the operator to check. For the 1448 AH Umrah season (31 May 2026 to 7 Apr 2027), start several weeks ahead, since checks move faster the earlier you begin.
When to go
Ramadan carries the greatest reward and the greatest crowds and prices; the weeks after Hajj (late Dhul Hijjah into Muharram) and the winter months (November to February) are cooler and quieter. The 1448 AH season runs from 31 May 2026 to 7 April 2027 for arrivals and departures. See the best time to perform Umrah.
What it costs from Baghdad
Your biggest variables are the flight from BGW, the hotel's distance from the Haram, and the season. Use the cost calculator for a range in IQD, then compare operator quotes line by line: visa, flights, hotel nights and category, transfers, and Makkah, Madinah transport.
Before you book
- Check that the operator is contracted through Nusuk Masar (ask for their Saudi partner's name).
- Confirm the hotel name and distance, not just "near Haram".
- Read how to avoid Umrah scams and how to choose an operator.
- Install the offline companion before you fly.