Umrah from Lagos

Flying from Lagos

Nigeria has one of the largest Muslim populations in Africa, and Lagos, as the country's commercial hub, has a well-developed Umrah travel trade alongside seasonal nonstop Saudia flights to Jeddah, particularly around Ramadan and Hajj when capacity increases; outside those peak windows, one-stop options through Cairo, Addis Ababa, or a Gulf hub are more consistently available, so confirm current schedules with your agent. Nigeria's National Hajj Commission oversees official Hajj arrangements, while private operators handle most Umrah bookings, and it's worth checking an agency's NAHCON accreditation before paying. The naira is used locally, and its value has been volatile in recent years, so factor exchange rate risk into your budgeting. Lagos's hot, humid climate is a reasonable comparison for Jeddah's coastal heat. Given Nigeria's large Muslim population concentrated more in the north, many Lagos-based agencies also serve pilgrims travelling in from Abuja and Kano. Book well ahead of Ramadan for the best fares.

Umrah visa for Nigerians

Nigeria is not on Saudi Arabia's eVisa list, so Nigerians 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. Nigeria's 2026 seats were cut from a prior 95,000 baseline after past underutilisation. 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 Nigerians →

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 Lagos

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