Umrah from Manila

Flying from Manila

The Philippines' Muslim minority is concentrated mainly in Mindanao, but Manila, as the country's main international gateway, is where most Filipino pilgrims depart from, usually connecting through a Gulf hub such as Doha or Abu Dhabi rather than flying nonstop, since Ninoy Aquino International Airport has no regular scheduled direct route to Jeddah or Madinah. Many pilgrims from the Philippines are Overseas Filipino Workers already based in the Gulf who perform Umrah from their country of work rather than departing from Manila at all, which is worth knowing if you're comparing routes and costs. Manila's local Umrah travel trade caters to both departing pilgrims and diaspora communities, and agents here can typically arrange visa processing alongside the flight booking. The Philippine peso is used locally. Given the longer routing most Manila departures require, build a comfortable buffer around your connection, and confirm visa requirements carefully since processing can take longer from a smaller-volume market.

Umrah visa for Filipinos

Philippines is not on Saudi Arabia's eVisa list, so Filipinos 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. Many Filipino Muslims working in the Gulf use that route instead of applying from the Philippines. 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 Filipinos →

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 Manila

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