Umrah travel is something that every believer dreams of being able to opt for in his lifetime. Since it’s a sunnah yet highly rewarding pilgrimage, millions travel through Umrah Packages every year and offer the rituals of minor pilgrimage in Makkah, Saudia Arabia.
If you are traveling for Umrah for the first time and need a guide for an Umrah booking platform for foreign pilgrims, we’ve got you covered.
Maqam Portal.
The Maqam portal is an official platform for the ‘online Umrah application system’ by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah that allows Muslims across the globe to quickly apply for Umrah travel packages from anywhere in the world. Therefore, allowing Umrah pilgrims not only to be able to plan their own itineraries electronically through approved OTAs and platforms but also have multiple options at their disposal.
Benefits of using the Maqam portal.
Essentially serving as a Global Distribution System (GDS), the Maqam portal offers for Umrah travelers;
• Linking services.
• Rates.
• Bookings.
• Offering goods and services.
For all sorts of airlines, hotels, and car rental needs. Meanwhile, approved travel agents and OTAs promote the services to Umrah pilgrims worldwide through the Maqam portal i.e., advertising themselves.
Umrah booking through the platform for foreign pilgrims.
1. First of all, visit the Maqam portal at their official website https://maqam.gds.haj.gov.sa/Home/OTAs.
2. From the list of authorized travel agents, select your desired travel agency and proceed to the next step.
3. Create an account by signing up on the official website of the travel agency that you’ve selected for your Umrah booking.
4. Open the Umrah Travel Form and/or webpage.
5. Along with your Umrah booking through the platform, submit the following documents along;
a. Passport-sized photographs of the pilgrim with a full, front-face view.
b. A passport that has a validity of at least six months at the time of application submission.
c. Vaccination certificates for all the specified vaccines for your region of travel.
d. A valid Umrah visa.
e. Your trip itinerary.
f. Financial proof to sponsor your entire travel and stay period in Haramain.
6. Enter your trip details as required such as;
a. Departure date and arrival date.
b. Name of the airports you’ll be using.
c. The number of nights you plan to stay in Makkah as well as Madinah.
d. Where will be your first stop i.e., either Makkah or Madinah, specify one.
7. Pre-book your hotels and flights in order to streamline your Umrah travel experience. Additionally, it is among the prerequisites for getting your Umrah visa application approved by the embassy. Therefore, select a hotel and airline of your choice for all sorts of travel and accommodation needs that best suits your affordability.
8. Enter your personal details as necessary. For instance;
a. Your first name and last name.
b. Date of birth.
c. Citizenship.
d. PR status (if you are residing in a foreign country).
e. Place of birth.
f. Shahadah certificate (if you have a non-Muslim name), etc.
9. Choose and add your desired payment method. Pilgrims can pay for their Umrah visa, flight tickets, as well as hotel reservations, either with a credit card or a debit card.
10. Submit your application online after finishing it and reviewing it for any errors and omissions.
11. After you’ve submitted the Umrah travel application, go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website on their official handle and complete your data entry to get your Umrah visa approved.
So, that’s how one can book Umrah through the Maqam platform for foreign pilgrims.