How to Perform Umrah Step by Step: The Complete 2026 Guide

Umrah is a short pilgrimage with a few clear rituals, yet first-time pilgrims often arrive unsure of the order, the words to say and the rules of Ihram. This guide walks through every step in sequence, so you can perform your Umrah with confidence and calm.

What is Umrah?

Umrah is the “lesser pilgrimage” to Makkah. Unlike Hajj, it has no fixed date and can be performed in most months of the year. The Prophet ﷺ said: “One Umrah to the next is an expiation for the sins between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1773, Sahih Muslim 1349).

It has four essential parts — Ihram, Tawaf, Sa’i, and shaving or trimming the hair — and most pilgrims complete them within a few hours of reaching Makkah.

Before you travel

• Visa and permit: confirm your visa route for your passport (see our Umrah visa guide) and set up the Nusuk app to book your Umrah slot.
• Vaccination: the meningococcal ACYW vaccine is required for Umrah pilgrims.
• Learn the duas: memorise the Talbiyah and a few short supplications before you fly.
• Pack Ihram in your hand luggage if your flight crosses the Miqat — our Umrah packing list covers the rest.

Step 1: Enter Ihram at the Miqat

Ihram is the sacred state a pilgrim enters before crossing the Miqat — the boundary points around Makkah. Travellers flying in from Europe, North America or Africa usually cross the Miqat in the air before landing at Jeddah, so the cabin crew often announce it about 30–45 minutes beforehand. Pilgrims arriving in Madinah first enter Ihram at Dhul Hulaifah (Abyar Ali) on the road to Makkah.

1. Prepare: clip nails, remove unwanted hair, take a bath (ghusl) and, for men, apply perfume to the body only — never to the Ihram cloth.
2. Dress: men wear two white unstitched sheets (the izar and rida) and sandals that leave the ankle bone uncovered; women wear modest everyday clothing, leaving the face and hands uncovered.
3. Make the intention (niyyah): say “Labbayka Allahumma ‘Umrah” — “Here I am, O Allah, for Umrah.”
4. Begin the Talbiyah and repeat it often until you start Tawaf.

Step 2: Tawaf — seven circuits around the Kaaba

Enter Masjid al-Haram with your right foot and the dua for entering a mosque. Stop the Talbiyah when you reach the Kaaba and begin Tawaf.

1. Start at the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad) corner — a green light on the wall marks the line. Face it, raise your right hand and say “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar.”
2. Walk anticlockwise, keeping the Kaaba on your left, for seven full circuits.
3. Men: keep the right shoulder uncovered (idtiba) throughout this Tawaf, and walk briskly with short steps (raml) in the first three circuits when space allows.
4. Make any dua in your own language. Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, it is Sunnah to recite the verse below.

Step 3: Two rak‘ahs and Zamzam

After the seventh circuit, men cover the right shoulder again. Pray two short rak‘ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim if there is space — anywhere in the mosque is fine when it is crowded. It is Sunnah to recite Surah al-Kafirun in the first and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second. Then drink Zamzam water from the coolers around the mosque and make dua.

Step 4: Sa’i between Safa and Marwah

Sa’i commemorates Hajar’s search for water for her son Isma‘il. Follow the signs to Mount Safa.

1. At Safa, recite “Inna as-Safa wal-Marwata min sha‘a’irillah” (Qur’an 2:158), face the Kaaba, praise Allah and make dua.
2. Walk to Marwah — that is one lap. Men jog lightly between the two green lights.
3. Repeat until you finish the seventh lap at Marwah. Wheelchairs and electric carts are available on the upper floors.

Step 5: Halq or Taqsir — completing Umrah

Men either shave the whole head (halq), which carries the greater reward, or trim hair evenly from all over the head (taqsir). Women gather their hair and cut about a fingertip’s length from the ends. Barbers operate just outside the Marwah side of the mosque. Once this is done, your Umrah is complete and the restrictions of Ihram are lifted.

Common mistakes first-time pilgrims make

• Crossing the Miqat without Ihram — enter Ihram before the plane passes it, not at Jeddah airport.
• Starting Tawaf before the Black Stone line, or losing count of circuits. If unsure, build on the lower number.
• Pushing to touch the Black Stone; pointing from a distance is enough and safer.
• Using scented wet wipes, soap or deodorant while in Ihram.
• Cutting only a few strands of hair, rather than from across the whole head.

Notes for women performing Umrah

Women follow the same steps without raml or idtiba and do not jog in Sa’i. A woman who begins her period before Tawaf stays in Ihram and waits until she is pure before performing Tawaf, since Tawaf requires purity; Sa’i itself does not. Plan a few spare days in Makkah where possible so this never causes stress.

Choosing a hotel close to the Haram makes every step easier, especially for elderly parents — compare categories on our Umrah packages page.