Umrah from Mumbai
What pilgrims leaving from Mumbai need to know: the flight, the visa route for Indians, the season and a realistic budget.
Flying from Mumbai
Mumbai has one of India's largest and most established Umrah travel trades, with a big, diverse Muslim community across South and Central Mumbai and a long history of pilgrims departing from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Nonstop flights to Jeddah and Madinah run regularly on Indian and Saudi carriers, and seat availability tightens sharply around Ramadan and the run-up to Hajj, so booking early matters more here than in smaller cities. Monsoon season (June to September) can bring flight delays into and out of Mumbai, worth building buffer time around. The rupee is the working currency for most pre-trip spending, and money changers near the airport and in Muslim neighbourhoods are common, though rates vary. Given the volume of agents operating in the city, ask for references from people who have travelled recently rather than relying on advertising alone.
Umrah visa for Indians
India is not on Saudi Arabia's eVisa list, so Indians 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 Indian pilgrims already resident in the Gulf apply through their country of residence instead. 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 Mumbai
Your biggest variables are the flight from BOM, the hotel's distance from the Haram, and the season. Use the cost calculator for a range in INR, 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.