Hajj & Umrah Travel Tips and Advice

​Travellers Checklist

Before you go overseas, check the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice online atwww.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo or contact the FCO on 020 7008 0232/0233 for essential travel advice and tips, and up to date country advice.

Get adequate travel insurance

  • make sure it includes comprehensive medical and repatriation cover
  • make sure it provides cover for your whole trip (whether one day or over a year)
  • make sure it covers you for all activities, including hazardous sports
  • disclose pre-existing medical conditions
  • take your policy number and the 24-hour emergency number with you
  • if you have any doubts about your cover, check with your insurer

Ensure you have a valid passport and the necessary visas

  • make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of six months at return date
  • take a photocopy with you and leave a copy at home
  • write the full details of your next of kin in your passport
  • make sure you have valid visas
  • take another form of ID with you (preferably with a photograph)

Plan to stay healthy

  • check what vaccinations you need with your GP at least six weeks before you travel
  • check the advice at www.doh.gov.uk/traveladvice or http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
  • check if your medication is legal in the country you are visiting
  • pack your medication in your hand luggage
  • if taking medication with you, also take the prescription and a GP’s letter
  • if travelling within the EEA (European Economic Area)1, get an E111 from the Post Office
    OR if you have received a European Health Insurance Card from the Department of Health, this should be taken with you when you travel as it supersedes the E111 form.
  • check to see if extra health precautions are needed for the country you are visiting (e.g. malaria zones)

Know about where you are going

  • get a good guide book and look at the FCO country fact sheets
  • make sure you know about local laws especially relating to alcohol and drugs
  • make sure you know about local culture especially relating to dress codes
  • take a phrase book that you can use in emergencies – 1 Countries in the EEA (European Economic Area) are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK
  • Make sure your travel agent is an ABTA member and, if flying, make sure your air ticket or holiday package is ATOL protected.
  • Plan ahead to avoid trouble
  • check the FCO up-to-date travel advice and travellers’ tips
  • tell friends and family where you are going
  • contact family and friends if trouble flares up

Take enough money for your trip

  • check the validity, expiry dates and cash available on your credit or debit card(s)
  • make sure you have back-up funds such as travellers cheques, sterling or US dollars
  • have a return ticket, or enough money to buy one

Leave copies of important information with family and friends

  • a copy of your passport and details of your next of kin
  • a copy of your insurance document plus the 24-hour emergency number
  • a copy of your ticket details
  • a copy of your itinerary and a way of contacting you such as e-mail

 

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This year thousands of British nationals will perform Hajj. The aim of this leaflet is to assist British pilgrims in preparing for Hajj and to explain what services the Consular staff can offer British pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

Health

The Saudi Ministry of Health has established 21 hospitals to provide health care to pilgrims free of charge. Make sure that you have been vaccinated with the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (ACWY). You will be required to produce a valid vaccination certificate. Consult your GP if you are in any doubt. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) also strongly recommends that pilgrims

have a seasonal influenza vaccination prior to
their departure. For more information visit www. fitfortravel.nhs.uk and www.nathnac.org/hajj.

Arrival and Departure

The Saudi Authorities take their responsibilities very seriously and the well-being of every pilgrim
is important to them. On arrival at the terminal the authorities will take your passport and give you or your tour operator a receipt. The Pilgrim Guides Establishment will hold your passport for you while you are performing Hajj and will return it on your departure. There are basic facilities at the airports in Jeddah and Madinah, and large numbers of pilgrims arriving and leaving can cause delays.

The Saudi authorities have advised that upon landing, pilgrims must notify the authorities of the exact amount of funds they have, and only exchange currencies at certified places.

Getting Around

Travel within Saudi Arabia will be limited to Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah. If you choose to travel elsewhere your travel agent will need to seek permission from the Pilgrim Guides Establishment giving at least 24 hours notice. Pilgrims travel by

buses provided by the General Cars Syndicate to Hajj Tour Operators. Alternatively, pilgrims will be able to use the Makkah Metro. Trains will run at 5 minute intervals during the busiest periods.

Dual Nationals

The Saudi Authorities do not recognise dual nationality and may confiscate second passports. British nationals who choose to travel on non- British passports should ensure that all British visas or endorsements are clearly shown in that passport. Any documentation required to re-enter the United Kingdom should be obtained before leaving the UK, to prevent any delays in returning.

Help and Assistance

We hope that, like many thousands of pilgrims, you will have a trouble-free Hajj. However, if something does go wrong the Consular staff, working with the British Consulate-General, can provide you with a range of consular services.

In the first instance please contact FCO consular staff on 02 622 5550.

The Consular staff can:

> arrange for a replacement travel document
> provide appropriate help if you are a victim of

crime, fall ill or are in hospital

> do all we properly can to contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been detained

> make special arrangements in case of civil disturbances or natural disasters

> provide information on how to transfer money

> provide contact details for local lawyers

> provide a list of medical facilities

> arrange for next of kin to be told of an accident or a death and advise on procedures

The Consular staff cannot:

> provide medical care
> become involved in private disagreements e.g.

pilgrim and tour operator disputes
> rearrange travel bookings
> pay your hotel, legal, medical or travel bills > get you out of prison
> give legal advice
> intervene in court cases
> investigate a crime

Please note any kind of photography (still or video) is strictly prohibited inside and around the two Holy Mosques. Anybody violating this will have their equipment and material confiscated.

View information on combating fraud at: http:// www.nfib.police.uk/nfib-urges-caution.html

Travellers Checklist

  • >  Check the FCO travel advice to make sure that you are up-to-date with the situation in Saudi Arabia at www.fco.gov.uk/travel or call 0845 850 2829.

  • >  Check that you have the correct tickets and ticket details.

  • >  Make sure that you book your tickets through an ATOL registered tour operator to avoid unnecessary difficulties. For more information please visit www.atol.org.uk.

  • >  Have contact details for your tour operator in the UK and their representatives in Makkah.

  • >  Get travel insurance for all aspects of your journey. Shariah compliant insurance policies are available.

  • >  Check that you have had the required

vaccinations for your pilgrimage, and that you have the vaccination cards with you.

  • >  Ensure that your passport is in good condition and the necessary visas are in place.

  • >  Make copies of your passport, insurance policy plus emergency numbers and ticket details. Leave these copies, your itinerary and correct contact details with family and friends.

  • >  Individuals on medication should make sure
    that they have adequate quantities for their pilgrimage. Existing medication should be clearly labelled for each individual.

  • >  Please ensure you have good quality footwear as you may have to walk long distances.

  • >  Please ensure all your luggage is clearly labelled by placing stickers both on the outside and inside of your luggage showing your name, nationality, passport number, air carrier, flight number, hotel name and a contact telephone number.

  • >  Make sure you have the contact details of the local Consulate.

    Useful Contact Information

Emergency numbers in Saudi Arabia:

Ambulance 997

Police 999

Traffic Accidents 993

Airline Offices In Jeddah:

BMI 02 800 124 5550 Lufthansa 02 800 124 5550 KLM 02 651 8012
Air France 02 122 1225 Saudi Air (in Saudi only) 9200 22222
British Airways 92000 2215

To call the UK from Saudi Arabia dial 00 44 before the number (drop the 0 at the beginning of the number and dial the rest of the number as normal). To call Saudi Arabia from the UK dial 00 966 before the number.

Copies of this leaflet are available in English at www.fco.gov.uk/hajj

Hajj

In Saudi Arabia:

British Consulate-General, Jeddah:
02 622 5550
Fax: 02 622 6249

British Hajj Consular Delegation
Elaf Kinda Hotel
PO Box 4616

Close to Abraj Al Bait Towers, King Fahad Gate, Makkah
02 574 5555
Direct fax:02 573 7557 Office Ext. 02 573 7502 Consular Staff Room Ext.

02 573 7503/7504/7505

The Ministry of Hajj

info@haj.gov.sa www.haj.gov.sa/ar/ contacus.html
Toll Free: 8002444480

Ministry of Hajj (Makkah): 02 5571714

Ministry of Hajj (Jeddah):

02 6655811 or 02 6477551

Ministry of Hajj (Al Madinah Al Munawarah):
04 8212320 localhajj@haj.gov.sa www.localhajj.gov.sa/lh/ Contactus

Tell us what you think!

If you prefer to contact us directly our contact details are:

Consular Directorate

Foreign & Commonwealth Office King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH

Source - www.fco.gov.uk/travel