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Halal Travel Guides / Saudi Arabia

🇸🇦Halal Travel Guide to Saudi Arabia

For most Muslim travellers Saudi Arabia means Makkah and Madinah, and that remains the heart of any trip. But since the tourist visa opened in 2019 the rest of the country has become reachable: Jeddah's coral-stone old town, the Nabataean tombs at Hegra, the mud-brick first Saudi capital at Diriyah, and the mountains of Asir. This guide covers the ziyarah sites in both holy cities, the practicalities of Umrah permits and the Haramain train, and a week that combines the two.

Last updated: 20 September 2026
The Kaaba in the courtyard of Masjid al-Haram surrounded by pilgrims

Why Saudi Arabia works for Muslim travellers

Everything in the country is halal and alcohol-free by law, so food is never a question. What takes planning is Umrah permits, the summer heat, and the fact that Makkah and Madinah's central precinct are closed to non-Muslims.

Muslim population
~93%
Non-Muslim residents are mostly expatriate workers. Islam is the state religion and public practice of other faiths is not permitted.
Halal status
Total
Alcohol and pork are illegal throughout the kingdom. Every restaurant, shop and hotel is halal without exception.
Language
Arabic
English is widely used in hotels, airports and malls, and in the holy cities you will hear Urdu, Bahasa, Turkish and Bengali everywhere.
Visa
eVisa, 1 year
The tourist eVisa covers around 60 nationalities, is multiple-entry for a year, and now permits Umrah. Others apply through an agent.
Currency
Saudi riyal (SAR)
Pegged at roughly 3.75 to the US dollar. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including in the Haram malls.
Best months
November-March
Summer in Makkah and Madinah routinely passes 45C. Winter is mild and is also the peak Umrah season.

Makkah and Madinah

Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi are the reason most Muslims come, and nothing else in travel compares. Umrah can now be performed on an ordinary tourist visa.

Ziyarah beyond the two mosques

Quba, the first mosque built in Islam; Masjid al-Qiblatain, where the qibla changed mid-prayer; Uhud and the martyrs' cemetery; the Trench. All within a short drive of Madinah's centre.

The Haramain high-speed railway

Makkah to Madinah in two and a half hours at 300 km/h, via Jeddah and King Abdulaziz airport. It has completely changed how a combined trip works.

AlUla and Hegra

More than a hundred monumental Nabataean tombs carved into sandstone outcrops in an empty desert valley - the same civilisation as Petra, with almost none of the crowds.

Diriyah and Jeddah's old town

At-Turaif, the mud-brick capital of the first Saudi state, and Al-Balad, Jeddah's coral-stone merchant quarter with its carved rawasheen balconies. Both UNESCO sites, both recently restored.

Genuinely easy logistics

No alcohol to navigate, prayer facilities everywhere, an overwhelmingly new road and airport network, and a tourism apparatus built specifically for Muslim visitors.

Know before you go

Planning a longer stay than a holiday? Our Saudi Arabia living cost guide has salaries by profession, tax and month-by-month expenses.

Seven days: Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and AlUla

Umrah at the centre, with Jeddah's old town at the start and AlUla at the end. The Haramain train links Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah; AlUla is a short domestic flight from Madinah or Riyadh.

1Day

Jeddah: Al-Balad and the Corniche

King Abdulaziz Airport - Al-Balad - Corniche

morning
Arrive at Jeddah. If you intend to enter ihram from the airport, do so before landing or at the airport miqat facilities - but a night in Jeddah first is perfectly normal.
afternoon
Al-Balad, the UNESCO-listed old town: coral-stone merchant houses with carved wooden rawasheen balconies, Naseef House, and the Souk Al Alawi. Restored and best walked late afternoon.
evening
The Corniche, the King Fahd Fountain (the tallest in the world), and Al-Rahmah Mosque, the white 'floating mosque' built out over the Red Sea. Dinner at a Hijazi restaurant or Al Baik.
Jeddah is the historic gateway for pilgrims arriving by sea, and Al-Balad grew rich on exactly that traffic.
2Day

Makkah: Umrah

Miqat - Masjid al-Haram - tawaf and sa'i

morning
Enter ihram at the appropriate miqat - Masjid Aisha at Tan'im if you are already in Makkah, or before Jeddah if flying in. The Haramain train from Jeddah takes under an hour.
afternoon
Perform tawaf and sa'i between Safa and Marwa, then trim or shave. Rest through the heat of the day; the Haram is busiest after asr and after isha.
evening
Pray maghrib and isha in the Haram. The mataf is calmest in the small hours, roughly between 1am and 4am.
Register your Umrah permit in the Nusuk app before travelling. Ihram garments, prayer mats and zamzam containers are all sold around the clock in the Haram malls.
3Day

Makkah: the historic sites

Jabal al-Nour - Jabal Thawr - Makkah Museum

morning
Fajr in the Haram, then a further tawaf. Most visitors spend the morning inside rather than sightseeing.
afternoon
Jabal al-Nour, the mountain holding the cave of Hira where the first revelation came. The climb is steep and takes 60-90 minutes; do it in winter or not at all. Jabal Thawr, the cave of the migration, is on the other side of the city.
evening
The plains of Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat can be driven in a couple of hours outside Hajj season and make the rites legible in a way no description does.
None of these sites carries any prescribed ritual - they are historical, and scholars differ on visiting them. Nothing is lost by skipping them.
4Day

Haramain train to Madinah

Makkah station - Masjid an-Nabawi

morning
The Haramain high-speed train to Madinah, around two and a half hours through the lava fields and volcanic plains of the Hijaz. Book online well ahead; it sells out.
afternoon
Check in near the Haram - almost everything within the central ring is a short walk from a gate. Rest.
evening
Masjid an-Nabawi. The Prophet's Mosque is calmer than the Haram in Makkah and, for many visitors, the more affecting of the two. The courtyard umbrellas open at sunrise and close after isha.
A Rawdah permit is required and must be booked through Nusuk. Slots are released in batches and go within minutes - set an alarm.
5Day

Madinah: ziyarah

Quba - Qiblatain - Uhud - Baqi

morning
Masjid Quba, the first mosque built in Islam. A prayer there is reported to carry the reward of an Umrah. Ten minutes from the centre and recently expanded.
afternoon
Masjid al-Qiblatain, where the qibla changed from Jerusalem to Makkah mid-prayer; Mount Uhud and the cemetery of the martyrs; and the Seven Mosques at the site of the Trench.
evening
Jannat al-Baqi, the cemetery beside the Prophet's Mosque, is open to men after fajr and asr. Then the date market at the Madinah Dates Market - ajwa, safawi, sukkari.
Local taxis run a fixed ziyarah circuit of all these sites for roughly SAR 150-250 for a half day.
6Day

Fly to AlUla: Hegra

Madinah - AlUla - Hegra

morning
Short flight or a three-hour drive north to AlUla. The landscape changes to red sandstone outcrops on an empty desert floor.
afternoon
Hegra (Madain Salih), Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO site - 111 monumental Nabataean tombs cut into sandstone, with carved facades, inscriptions and eagles. Entry is by guided rawi tour only.
evening
Elephant Rock at sunset, then the AlUla Old Town, a mud-brick village of 900 houses being carefully restored.
Hegra is the land of Thamud, mentioned in the Qur'an. Some scholars advise passing through such sites without lingering or making merriment; others treat it as ordinary history. Decide in advance which view you follow.
7Day

AlUla: oasis and departure

AlUla Oasis - Dadan - departure

morning
The AlUla oasis trail through date palms and citrus, or Dadan and Jabal Ikmah, an open-air library of pre-Islamic Arabian inscriptions carved across a canyon wall.
afternoon
Maraya, the mirrored concert hall that reflects the entire valley and is the most photographed building in the country.
evening
Fly out of AlUla via Riyadh or Jeddah. If you have an extra day, Diriyah outside Riyadh - the mud-brick At-Turaif district and the Bujairi Terrace restaurants - is the best stop on the way home.
AlUla is small and everything runs on a shuttle bus system booked through the Experience AlUla app.

Shorter and longer versions

Mosques and Islamic sites in Saudi Arabia

Makkah and Madinah are closed to non-Muslims. Elsewhere in the kingdom, mosques are working buildings rather than visitor attractions, and there is no tradition of tours - pray there, or admire the exterior.

Masjid al-Haram Makkah Muslims only

The Sacred Mosque around the Kaaba, the largest mosque in the world, currently able to hold over two million worshippers. Open continuously. The mataf is least crowded between roughly 1am and 4am.

Masjid an-Nabawi Madinah Muslims only

The Prophet's Mosque, built by the Prophet himself and expanded for fourteen centuries since. Contains the Rawdah and the Prophet's tomb. The retractable courtyard umbrellas open at sunrise.

Masjid Quba Madinah First mosque in Islam

Founded on the Prophet's arrival in Madinah in 622. A hadith reports that praying two rak'ah here carries the reward of an Umrah. Recently expanded and ten minutes from the Haram.

Masjid al-Qiblatain Madinah Ziyarah

The mosque of the two qiblas, where the revelation to turn towards Makkah came during the prayer itself and the congregation turned mid-rak'ah. The old second mihrab has been removed in the modern rebuild.

Masjid Aisha (Tan'im) Makkah Miqat

The nearest miqat for anyone already inside Makkah who wishes to enter ihram for a further Umrah. Open all night, with changing facilities and taxis waiting outside.

The Seven Mosques (Khandaq) Madinah Ziyarah

A cluster of small mosques at the site of the Battle of the Trench, now consolidated under the large Khandaq mosque. Part of the standard ziyarah circuit.

Al-Rahmah Mosque (Floating Mosque) Jeddah Open to all

White, domed and built on piles over the Red Sea so that it appears to float at high tide. On the Corniche and open to visitors of any faith outside prayer times.

King Saud Mosque Jeddah Largest in Jeddah

A 1980s building by the Egyptian architect Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil, widely regarded as one of the best modern mosques in the Arab world - traditional forms handled with real skill.

Masjid al-Ghamama Madinah Historic

On the old musalla ground where the Prophet is reported to have prayed the Eid prayer and the prayer for rain. A short walk west of the Prophet's Mosque.

Imam Turki bin Abdullah Grand Mosque Riyadh Central

The main congregational mosque of the capital, beside Masmak Fort and Deira Square in the old centre.

At-Turaif mosques Diriyah UNESCO

The mud-brick mosques of the first Saudi state's capital, restored as part of the At-Turaif heritage district. Architecturally plain Najdi work, which is the point.

Masjid Nimrah Arafat Hajj

The mosque on the plain of Arafat where the Hajj sermon is delivered on the Day of Arafah. Empty and open for most of the year.

Islamic heritage and museums

Al-Balad Jeddah UNESCO

The historic merchant quarter, built from Red Sea coral stone with carved teak rawasheen balconies to catch the sea breeze. Naseef House, where King Abdulaziz stayed, is open to visitors. Under long-term restoration.

At-Turaif, Diriyah Riyadh UNESCO

The mud-brick capital of the first Saudi state, destroyed in 1818 and now restored as a heritage district with museums and the Bujairi Terrace restaurant quarter alongside.

Hegra (Madain Salih) AlUla UNESCO

111 Nabataean rock-cut tombs from the first century CE, the southern capital of the same kingdom that built Petra. Access by guided tour only.

Jabal Ikmah AlUla Inscriptions

A canyon wall covered in Dadanitic, Thamudic, Nabataean and Minaic inscriptions - effectively an open-air library of pre-Islamic Arabian writing.

Saudi National Museum Riyadh Context

Eight galleries from pre-history through the Prophet's mission and the three Saudi states. The best single orientation to the country's history, and strong on the Hijaz.

Dar Al Madinah Museum Madinah Local history

Scale models of the Prophet's Mosque through every expansion, the old city walls and the Hijaz railway. Genuinely useful before or after ziyarah.

What to eat in Saudi Arabia - and where

Everything is halal, so the only question is what to try. Saudi food splits regionally: Najdi from the centre, Hijazi from the Red Sea coast with its Egyptian, Indian and Levantine trade influences, and Asiri from the southern mountains.

Dishes worth planning a day around

Kabsa

The national dish: spiced rice cooked in meat stock with chicken, lamb or camel, finished with raisins and almonds and eaten from a communal platter.

Mandi

Meat and rice cooked in an underground pit oven so the fat drips onto the rice. Yemeni in origin, ubiquitous in Saudi Arabia.

Saleeg

A Hijazi dish from Taif - rice slow-cooked in milk and broth to a risotto-like consistency, topped with chicken and a slick of ghee.

Jareesh

Crushed wheat cooked with yoghurt and meat into a thick savoury porridge. Najdi comfort food, especially in winter.

Mutabbaq

Thin pastry folded around spiced mince, leek and egg and griddled flat. Hijazi street food, and a Ramadan fixture.

Foul and tamees

Stewed fava beans with a tandoor-baked Afghan-style flatbread. The standard breakfast, eaten everywhere from Jeddah to Riyadh.

Harees

Wheat and meat beaten together for hours into a smooth, savoury paste. Ramadan and celebration food across the Gulf.

Camel meat and camel milk

Rich, lean and slightly sweet. Camel milk is sold fresh in supermarkets and is worth trying once; it is an acquired taste.

Luqaimat

Crisp fried dough balls soaked in date syrup. Iftar food, sold from carts during Ramadan.

Areeka and masoub

Mashed dates or banana with crumbled bread, ghee and cream. Hijazi dessert or breakfast, depending on who you ask.

Saudi coffee (qahwa) and dates

Pale, cardamom-heavy coffee served in small handleless cups with dates. Refusing the first cup is rude; covering the cup with your hand ends the round.

Ajwa dates

The dark, soft dates of Madinah, with specific virtue mentioned in hadith. Sold at the Madinah date market alongside safawi, sukkari and ambar.

Restaurants

Al Baik Nationwide, founded in Jeddah Halal

The fried chicken chain that is a genuine Saudi institution. Broasted chicken, garlic sauce, and queues at every branch including inside the Haram complexes. Cheap and open late.

Al Tazaj Nationwide Halal

Charcoal-grilled chicken with garlic sauce and flatbread, the other national fast-food chain. Reliable everywhere.

Najd Village Riyadh Halal

Najdi cooking in a reconstructed mud-brick courtyard house - jareesh, marqooq, qursan, served on the floor in private majlis rooms. The best introduction to central Saudi food.

Al Romansiah Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam Halal

A large, inexpensive chain doing kabsa and mandi properly. Family sections in every branch, and portions built for sharing.

Takya Bujairi Terrace, Diriyah Halal

Modern Saudi cooking - reinterpreted jareesh, saleeg and camel - on the terrace overlooking the floodlit mud-brick walls of At-Turaif. Book ahead.

Suhail Bujairi Terrace, Diriyah Halal

Contemporary Najdi tasting menus in the same restaurant district. The most serious cooking in Riyadh, and the setting is extraordinary.

Twina Seafood Jeddah Halal

Red Sea fish grilled or fried to order with sayadieh rice. Jeddah's seafood is the best in the country and this is the long-standing address for it.

Abu Zaid Al-Balad, Jeddah Halal

Hijazi home cooking - foul, mutabbaq, saleeg - in the old town. Unglamorous and exactly right after a walk around Al-Balad.

Byblos and the Corniche cluster Jeddah Halal

The Corniche is lined with Levantine and Egyptian restaurants with sea-facing terraces, open very late. All halal, all alcohol-free, all family-friendly.

Haram food courts Makkah and Madinah Halal

The malls ringing both Harams have extensive food courts open around the clock, with Turkish, Indonesian, Pakistani, Indian and Levantine options for the pilgrim traffic.

Madinah Dates Market Madinah Halal

Not a restaurant but the place to buy ajwa, safawi and sukkari dates, date-stuffed pastries and Zamzam-packed gift boxes. Prices are better than in the hotel arcades.

Maraya Social AlUla Halal

Rooftop dining on top of the mirrored concert hall, with a view down the valley. Expensive and the most memorable setting in AlUla.

Somewhere and the Riyadh mall restaurants Riyadh Halal

Riyadh's mall dining is extensive, international and uniformly halal - useful when travelling with children or in the summer heat.

Rijal Almaa village cafés Asir Halal

Coffee with cardamom and honey, and areeka, in the painted stone tower houses of the southern mountains. Worth the detour for the setting alone.

Watch out for:
  • There is effectively nothing to avoid - alcohol and pork are illegal nationwide and all meat is halal-slaughtered.
  • Restaurants historically had separate singles and families sections. The rule was relaxed in 2019 but many restaurants still operate the layout; follow the signs.
  • Tap water is desalinated and generally safe in cities, but bottled water is the norm and is very cheap.
  • In the Haram areas, food prices are two to three times what they are a few streets away.

Prayer, dress and practicalities

The whole country stops for prayer. Shops and restaurants close for roughly 20-30 minutes at each of the five prayers, though enforcement has relaxed considerably since 2019.

WherePrayer facilities
EverywhereEvery mall, petrol station, office building, airport and motorway stop has a musalla with full ablution facilities, separated by gender. This is the least-planned aspect of a Saudi trip.
Jeddah and Riyadh airportsLarge prayer halls in every terminal, airside and landside. Jeddah's Hajj terminal has dedicated facilities on a different scale entirely.
Haramain train stationsAll five stations have prayer halls, and the train schedule is built around prayer times. Trains pause at stations across prayer where practical.
Masjid al-HaramOpen continuously. Zamzam dispensers throughout, wheelchairs and electric carts available for tawaf and sa'i, and dedicated women's prayer areas.
Masjid an-NabawiOpen continuously except for a short closure after isha. Rawdah access is permit-only through Nusuk, with separate men's and women's time slots.
HotelsQibla markers, prayer mats and in-room Qur'ans are standard. Hotels ringing the Harams broadcast the adhan and the prayer directly into the rooms.
AlUla and remote sitesPrayer rooms at the visitor centres, Winter Park and the main shuttle stops. Carry a mat for the desert sites.

Practical notes

Where to stay in Saudi Arabia

In the holy cities, location is everything and is priced accordingly - the distance from a Haram gate is the single biggest factor in your bill. Elsewhere, the hotel sector is new, international and unremarkable in a good way.

Ajyad and the Clock Tower ring Makkah Closest

Hotels directly on the Haram, with a gate within a few minutes' walk. The most expensive option by a wide margin, and worth it for an older traveller or a short stay.

Aziziyah and Misfalah Makkah Value

Two to four kilometres out, with free shuttle buses running to the Haram around the clock. Half the price or less; the trade-off is the journey at 3am.

Central Haram area Madinah Closest

The ring immediately around the Prophet's Mosque is dense with hotels at every price level, almost all within a five-minute walk of a gate. Madinah is markedly cheaper than Makkah.

Al-Balad and the Corniche Jeddah Neighbourhood

Al-Balad for heritage boutique stays in restored coral houses; the Corniche for modern hotels with sea views and easy airport access.

AlUla Old Town and Ashar Valley AlUla Desert

Everything from a restored mud-brick guesthouse in the old town to high-end tented resorts in the sandstone canyons. Book far ahead for the winter season.

Diriyah and Olaya Riyadh Neighbourhood

Olaya for business hotels and the malls; the Diriyah side for the heritage district and the best restaurants in the capital.

Abha and Rijal Almaa Asir Mountains

Cool mountain air at 2,200 metres, painted stone villages and hiking. The Saudi summer escape, and completely different from the rest of the country.

Beaches, pools and leisure

What a halal-friendly trip to Saudi Arabia costs

Umrah costs are dominated by how close you sleep to the Haram; everything else is mid-priced Gulf. All figures are per person per day unless stated, excluding international flights.

ItemBudgetMid-rangePremium
AccommodationSAR 150-300SAR 400-800SAR 1,500+ (Haram-facing)
Food (3 meals)SAR 50-90SAR 150-280SAR 500+
Local transportSAR 20-50 (shuttle)SAR 80-150 (Uber)SAR 500 (private car)
Ziyarah / attractionsSAR 0-60SAR 150-350 (Hegra tour)SAR 800+
Haramain train (Makkah-Madinah)SAR 150 (economy)SAR 150-250SAR 350 (business)
Daily total per personSAR 280-450SAR 700-1,300SAR 2,500+

Best time to visit Saudi Arabia

The Hijaz is hot for eight months of the year. Winter is both the most comfortable season and the busiest for Umrah.

PeriodWeatherVerdict for a halal trip
November-February18-28C, dryThe best weather and the peak Umrah season. Book hotels and the Haramain train well ahead.
March-April25-35CStill comfortable, and AlUla is at its best. Ramadan often falls here in the coming years - expect very high demand.
May-September38-48CSevere heat in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah. Cheapest hotel rates, but plan almost everything for after maghrib. Asir and Taif are the escape.
October30-38C, easingThe shoulder. Heat is dropping, AlUla's season is opening, and prices have not yet reached winter levels.
Travelling during Ramadan: Ramadan in Makkah and Madinah is the most intense religious experience available anywhere, and the last ten nights in particular draw enormous crowds - the Haram fills for taraweeh and qiyam, and entry to both mosques is controlled by permit through Nusuk. Umrah in Ramadan is reported in hadith to carry the reward of a Hajj, which is why demand and prices roughly double. If you want the atmosphere without the crush, the first ten days are far more manageable than the last ten. Outside the holy cities, daytime eating in public is not permitted during Ramadan, restaurants open only after maghrib, and business hours shift heavily towards the night.

Saudi Arabia halal travel FAQ

The questions Muslim travellers ask most often before booking.

Can I perform Umrah on a tourist visa?
Yes. Since 2022 the Saudi tourist eVisa permits Umrah, and you register the Umrah itself through the Nusuk app. You no longer need a dedicated Umrah visa or a licensed agent, though many travellers still use one for convenience.
Do I need a permit for the Rawdah?
Yes, always. Rawdah visits in the Prophet's Mosque are strictly permit-controlled through the Nusuk app, with separate time slots for men and women. Slots are released in batches, are free, and are taken within minutes - set alarms and try repeatedly.
Can non-Muslims visit Saudi Arabia?
Yes, on the tourist visa, and they can visit Jeddah, Riyadh, AlUla and everywhere else. What they cannot do is enter Makkah at all, or the central precinct of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. Road signs divert non-Muslim traffic well before the Makkah boundary.
Do women need to wear an abaya?
Not legally, since 2019, for foreign visitors. Modest dress covering the arms and legs is required, and a headscarf is required in the Harams and expected throughout Makkah and Madinah. Many visitors find an abaya simply the easiest way to comply, and they are sold everywhere.
How do I get between Makkah and Madinah?
The Haramain high-speed railway, two and a half hours, via Jeddah and King Abdulaziz airport. Book online in advance. Intercity coaches take six hours and cost less; flying between the two is slower door to door than the train.
Is AlUla worth adding to an Umrah trip?
If you have the days, yes - it is the most striking landscape in the country and utterly different from the Hijaz cities. Note the religious question around Hegra as the land of Thamud: some scholars advise passing through without lingering. The oasis, Old Town, Dadan and Jabal Ikmah raise no such question.
What should I avoid during Hajj season?
Everything in the Makkah region, unless you hold a Hajj permit - the area is closed to others entirely. Madinah and Jeddah remain open but are heavily congested for several weeks around the dates, and hotel rates across the Hijaz are at their annual peak.
Is Saudi Arabia expensive?
Moderately, and it depends almost entirely on where you sleep in Makkah. Food, domestic transport and the train are good value. Haram-facing hotel rooms are the single line item that can double a trip's cost, and staying three kilometres out with a free shuttle saves a great deal.