EMAIL US AT info@cbhuk.org
CALL US NOW 0845 833 4145
Donate Now

Hajj Dates for 2017 (1438AH)

Hajj 2017

Important dates for Pilgrims

*Dates are based on the Islamic Hijri calendar is based on Umm Al-Qura calculations.

Dates of receipt of applications for Hajj visas

The last date for receiving applications for Hajj visas from the embassies and representations Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques outside the Kingdom is the 25th of Dhul al-Qi’dah of each year (17th August 2017) according to the Hijri calendar*.

Validity of Hajj visas

The Hajj Visas for pilgrims coming by air will expire by the end of Dhu al-Hijjah, and no later than the 15th of Muharram of the year which followed. And the date of coming back must be according to the dates of travel tickets.

The last date of pilgrims coming by sea is the end of Muharram.
The last date of pilgrims coming by bus is 5th of Muharram.

Dates of arrival for Pilgrims coming by Land

Last date for arrival of pilgrims to the Kingdom by land is the end of the Dhul Qa’dah of each year according to the Hijri calendar*.

Dates of arrival for Pilgrims coming by Air

Last date for arrival of pilgrims in the Kingdom by air, at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah,
or at the Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah is the 4th of Dhul-Hijjah  of each year (26th August 2017).

Dates of arrival for Pilgrims coming by Sea

Last date for arrival of pilgrims to Jeddah Islamic Port is the 4th of Dhu al-Hijjah  of each year (26th August 2017).

Dates of travel to Medina after arrival

Last date for pilgrims to travel from Jeddah to Madinah by Bus is the 25th of Dhul-Qa’dah of each year (17th August 2017).
Last date for pilgrims to travel from Jeddah to Madinah by Air is the 2nd day of Dhu al-Hijjah of each year (24th August 2017).
Last date for pilgrims to travel from Medina to Makkah by Bus (before Hajj) is the 5th of Dhul-Hijjah of each year (27th August 2017).
Last date for pilgrims to travel from Medina to Jeddah by Air (before Hajj) is the 6th of Dhul-Hijjah of each year (28th August 2017).

Above dates are subject to confirmation by the Saudi Authorities and should be treated as a guide only.  Confirm with your Ministry of Hajj & Umrah licensed tour operator before booking/  All dates subject to moon sighting. 

General Ministry of Hajj Rules:
Dates of Arrivals, Departures  and Repatriation of Pilgrims to their Respective Countries (2012)

I: Arrival and Departure Dates

Prompted by its desire to secure the comfort of the pilgrims of Allah’s Inviolable House, and to provide them with the best services, the Ministry of Pilgrimage hopes that all pilgrims will observe the arrival and departure dates, as well as their movements between Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Jeddah and the Holy Sites. The deadline for receiving applications for a pilgrimage visa from the embassies and representations of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques outside the Kingdom is the twenty fifth of the month of Dhil-Qi’dah of each Hegira year (the Islamic Calendar), pursuant to the Umm Al-Qura Calendar. Thus the arrival and departure dates shall be as follows:

1.The deadline for the arrival of the pilgrims traveling over land to the Kingdom’s borders is the end of the month of Dhil-Qi’dah of each year, pursuant to the Umm Al-Qura Calendar, with strict adherence to the designated roads to be followed by pilgrims for reaching Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. As regards pilgrims arriving by air (King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah; Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah; or King Fahd Airport in the Eastern Province) and by ship (Jeddah Islamic Seaport) their arrival deadline is the end of the fourth of the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah of each year.

2.The deadline for the departure of pilgrims from Jeddah to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah over land is the end of the twenty sixth day of the month of Dhil-Qi’dah of each year.

3.The deadline for the departure of pilgrims from Jeddah to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah by air is the end of the second day of the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah of each year.

4.The deadline for the departure of pilgrims from Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah to Makkah Al-Mukarramah traveling over land (before Hajj) is the end of the fifth day of the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah of each year.

5.The deadline for the departure from Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah to Jeddah by air (before the Hajj) is the end of the sixth day of the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah of each year.

6.The expiry of the visas of pilgrims arriving by air, and their departure from the Kingdom to their respective countries shall be after the end of the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and not later than the fifteenth of the month of Muharram of the following year. Departure shall be according to the dates indicated on their air-tickets. As to pilgrims arriving by sea, the date of their departure shall not be later than the fifth of Muharram.

7.In order to avoid any problems, the departure date of each pilgrim must be specified at the beginning of his trip and should by no means exceed the validity date of the visa granted to him by the representation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques abroad.

 

II: Departure of Pilgrims to their Respective Countries

 

First: Pilgrims traveling by air

1.Pilgrims arriving by air from abroad are allowed to leave Makkah Al-Mukarramah after the usual clearance issued by the Ministry of Health and in the following order:

A. Regarding air pilgrims, the dates of whose departure are indicated on their air tickets and the cards wherein the departure date is indicated, the Tawafa Establishments shall take the necessary steps for pilgrims’ departure from Makkah Al-Mukarramah to Jeddah, at least  twelve hours before the time of take-off of their flights to their respective countries, for pilgrims who depart from the Pilgrims City at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and eight hours for pilgrims departing from the northern and southern terminals at the same airport. Pilgrims who have not visited Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah before the Hajj and wish to pay such visit after performing the Hajj duty are allowed a maximum of eleven days before their departure to their respective countries, one day being allotted for travel to, and one day for travel from, and eight days for staying in, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and one day in Jeddah.

B.Air pilgrims whose date of departure was not indicated before their arrival from their respective countries should approach the establishment in charge of serving them or the party acting on its behalf for the latter to approach the Airlines Agents before the ascension to Arafat for it to determine the date of their departure, on the basis of the dates of their arrival in the kingdom, pursuant to the arrival stamp appearing on their passports.

C.The staff of the Ministry of Pilgrimage who are delegated to perform certain assignments, at the Group Dispatching Control Centers on the roads, shall check that the departure data are stamped by the relevant grouping officials in the establishments before allowing buses to proceed to Jeddah or Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, according to dates and schedules specified in these instructions.

2.Air pilgrims coming from Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah and proceeding to travel to their respective countries by air and  whose travel time is due, shall be directed to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah directly, and those desiring to reside in the Pilgrims City of the air pilgrims in Jeddah shall be disembarked before the date of their departure pursuant to the instructions.

3.When pilgrims approach airline companies for making arrangements for their travel, the latter shall prepare a manifest of the names of each flight passengers and shall submit a copy thereof, together with the passports of the pilgrims traveling on each flight, to the branch of the Ministry of Pilgrimage at the Governorate of Jeddah for endorsement of the pilgrims’ travel, in which the following data are included:

A.Full pilgrim’s name as written in his/her passport.

B.Nationality.

C.Passport number, date and origin.

The manifest is then submitted to the Passport Department for completion of the pilgrim’s travel formalities.

4.The agents of airline companies and the Saudi Airlines are under the obligation of refraining from writing down the name of any pilgrim in the passengers’ manifest except after making sure of the actual date of his/her departure.

5.In the event of any pilgrims approaching airline companies before the date of their departure, such companies shall present their passports and travel tickets to the Ministry’s branch in Jeddah for the latter to investigate how they arrived in Jeddah before the dates designated for their departure. The companies may not make any reservation for any pilgrim on a date prior to that previously specified, except after permission is given by the branch after explaining the reasons for their request.

6.A pilgrim is free to choose his return itinerary only by air or by sea. The change of the return itinerary can be made only through the branches of the Ministry of Pilgrimage, provided his actual return is guaranteed. As to air and sea pilgrims, who wish to return to their respective countries over land, emergency cases of a special nature shall be considered in light of their circumstances by the branch of the Ministry of Pilgrimage in Makkah Al-Mukarramah for completion of the processing, payment, and checking off.

 

Second: Sea Pilgrims

1.Pilgrims arriving by sea shall be permitted to travel from Makkah Al-Mukarramah to Jeddah after the usual annual clearance by the Ministry of Health is announced, according to the departure bulletins that are issued by the branch of the Ministry of Pilgrimage at the Governorate of Jeddah, at least thirty six hours in advance for those who arrive from Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and twenty four hours for those arriving from Makkah Al-Mukarramah, provided that those who choose to stay at the Pilgrims City of the sea pilgrims in Jeddah shall submit an undertaking to actually stay therein after payment of the accommodation fees, which amount to 80 Saudi Riyals, to the order of Ein Al-Aziziyyah Management.

2.Hajj Department staff at the Pilgrims City, and the competent authorities, shall receive the pilgrims who wish to reside at the Pilgrims City. The Hajj Department Director at the Seaport, and the accommodation supervisor of the pilgrim’s accommodation there, shall supervise the arrangement of their accommodation that is prepared for them at the Pilgrims City of sea pilgrims.

3.The Unified Agents Office shall arrange for the transport of pilgrims’ luggage immediately upon their arrival and shall receive their passports in order to complete the due processing.

4.The Unified Agents Office shall coordinate, with the maritime companies, the process of registration of pilgrims in he ships’ manifest, and shall use a special stamp, with dates, for stamping the passports of pilgrims whose names have been registered.

5.The Passport Department at the seaport shall direct pilgrims who have not registered their names with the Unified Agents Office and the maritime companies, individually, to the Unified Agents Office for drawing up lists of their names to be added to the manifest.

6.In the event pilgrims arrive before the date of their travel,  the Unified Agents Office and the maritime companies shall notify the Department of Pilgrimage at the concerned seaport city in respect of such pilgrims and shall present their passports to such Department for the latter to investigate how they have arrived and to refer the investigation to the Ministry.

7.The Department of Pilgrimage at the Pilgrims City of sea pilgrims in Jeddah shall supervise the arrangements pertaining to the safe transport of pilgrims and their luggage to the Seaport by Unified Agents Office after ascertaining that the ship has docked along the quay and its being ready to receive the pilgrims and completion of all due processing.

 

Third: Land Pilgrims

1.The travel of land pilgrims from Makkah Al-Mukarramah shall take place after completion of the Hajj duty each year, not later than the fifth day of the month of Muharram, according to the Umm Al-Qura Calendar, after the Ministry of Health announces the Hajj clearance. They shall travel using the same means of transport that have brought them. The said means of transport shall not be permitted to move about from one place to another except after the Passport departments have ascertained the presence of the passengers registered thereon or the existence of evidence of legal excuse for those pilgrims staying behind on the basis of legal documents that are supported by the statement issued by the Ministry of Pilgrimage (the branches of the Ministry of Pilgrimage in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah), each within their field of competence, pursuant to Article Seven of the Regulations governing the transport of pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and repatriating them to their respective countries.

2.The land vehicles must report to the Group Dispatching Control Centers situated at the outlets of Makkah Al-Mukarramah for registering the departing pilgrims.

3.The Group Dispatching Control Centers that are affiliated to the Ministry of Pilgrimage at the outlets of Makkah Al-Mukarramah shall authorize the vehicles of the land pilgrims to travel to their respective countries after ascertaining that they have satisfied all the legal departure procedures.

 

Source: Ministry of Hajj