Umrah bookings from UAE fall 50% as pilgrims delay Saudi Arabia trips: report

New Umrah bookings and enquiries in the United Arab Emirates have fallen by about 50% following recent Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, Khaleej Times reported, quoting UAE travel operators, as prospective pilgrims delay travel plans amid uncertainty over the security situation.

Operators said existing bookings remain largely intact, while some passengers whose flights to Riyadh were cancelled are being rebooked on services to Jeddah or Medina, two key gateways for pilgrims travelling to Makkah.

How much have UAE Umrah bookings fallen?

UAE travel operators reported a roughly 50% decline in new Umrah bookings and enquiries.

While customers who booked earlier are largely keeping their plans, many prospective pilgrims are waiting for greater clarity before committing to a trip.

Are existing Umrah groups from the UAE still travelling?

Shihab Perwad of Rehan Al Jazeera Tours and Travels said his company had received no cancellations of earlier bookings, with the decline concentrated in new enquiries and reservations.

“New enquiries and bookings have reduced by around 50 per cent,” he said, adding that demand had weakened for both bus and flight packages.

The slowdown comes as the Umrah season typically begins to pick up, with demand expected to increase further in December. Although buses continue to depart from the UAE and flights to Jeddah and Medina remain available, new bookings have fallen, Perwad said.

What happens to Umrah pilgrims whose Riyadh flights are cancelled?

Jaseem of Al Shammar Haj and Umrah Service said his company's groups were travelling as planned and that it had not received any cancellations so far.

He said flights to Riyadh had been cancelled, prompting operators to change affected passengers' tickets to Medina or Jeddah so they could continue their journeys for Umrah.

How much does an Umrah trip from the UAE cost by bus or plane?

Jaseem said some residents were considering travelling by road instead of flying.

A bus package costs about Dh1,100 ($300) and typically lasts 10 days, while flight packages start at around Dh2,700 ($735).

Why are UAE residents postponing Umrah trips?

Meeran, a Dubai resident, said he had postponed his planned pilgrimage because he was uncomfortable travelling amid the current uncertainty, despite flights to Jeddah and Medina remaining available.

He said Umrah remained important to him but that he preferred to wait until he could make the journey with peace of mind.

Fazil Akbar, a Garhoud resident, said his family had spent two years planning the pilgrimage and had intended to travel this year. They are now considering postponing the trip until the situation becomes clearer.

If flight disruptions continue, the family may consider driving to Makkah in a small convoy, he said, depending on road safety and travel requirements.

“For now, we do not want to rush a journey that we have waited so long to make,” he said.