Umrah from Dakar

Flying from Dakar

Senegal is overwhelmingly Muslim, with a strong Sufi religious tradition, and Umrah travel is deeply embedded in religious life, with Blaise Diagne International Airport seeing seasonal nonstop or near-nonstop capacity to Jeddah around Hajj and Ramadan, though outside peak periods pilgrims more commonly connect through Casablanca or Istanbul, so confirm current routing with your agent. Senegal's Umrah travel trade is well established, often organised alongside the country's various Sufi brotherhoods (such as the Mourides and Tijaniyyah), which frequently coordinate group pilgrimage trips for their members. The West African CFA franc is used locally. Dakar's climate is hot with a distinct dry and rainy season, worth factoring into travel timing. Given the strength of Senegal's religious travel culture, personal referrals through a mosque or brotherhood network are typically the most reliable way to find a trustworthy operator. Book well ahead of Ramadan and Hajj season, when demand across Senegal's Muslim population is at its highest.

Umrah visa for Senegalese

Senegal is not on Saudi Arabia's eVisa list, so Senegalese 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.

Full visa guide for Senegalese →

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 Dakar

Your biggest variables are the flight from DSS, the hotel's distance from the Haram, and the season. Use the cost calculator for a range in XOF, 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.