Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
Can women perform Umrah without a mahram?
Umrah for women changed in 2021, when the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that women may perform Umrah without a male guardian (mahram). Women can now plan the trip alone, with friends, in a women's group or with family.
The conditions attached to each visa, including any age conditions, depend on the visa type and your nationality, and they can change. Confirm the current position on Nusuk or the official Saudi visa platform before you book flights, and keep a screenshot of what you read. We are a transport company, so we cannot confirm visa rules for you.
Planning checklist for women travelling for Umrah
- Check your visa conditions on the official visa platform or Nusuk.
- Book your Umrah time slot on Nusuk; each pilgrim needs a permit of her own.
- If you visit Madinah, book a Rawdah slot on Nusuk; women have separate time slots from men.
- Choose a hotel area that suits how you will reach the mosque; central hotels are within walking distance.
- Book your airport transfer with your flight number, and say if you would like a female driver.
- Share your flights, hotel and transport details with family at home.
- Save our number, +966 57 951 9804, and your hotel's address in Arabic and English on your phone.
Female drivers: where they work and what they cost
Our female-driver option puts a licensed Saudi female driver in a standard sedan or a comfort MPV, for up to 6 passengers, with a child seat available. It runs in Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and Dammam. Book at least 12 hours ahead so we can match a driver to your time. It costs a little more than a standard sedan:
| Trip | Standard sedan | Female driver |
|---|---|---|
| Jeddah Airport to Makkah | SAR 210 | SAR 270 |
| Madinah Airport to central Madinah | SAR 70 | SAR 90 |
| Makkah to Madinah | SAR 900 | SAR 1,170 |
| City ride | SAR 70 | SAR 90 |
| Per hour, 3-hour minimum | SAR 95 | SAR 130 |
Arriving at the airport
At Jeddah Airport the meeting point is the Terminal 1 arrivals hall, at the exit gate after customs; pilgrim charter flights may use the Hajj Terminal, so check your ticket. At Madinah Airport the driver waits at the arrivals hall exit. Your driver holds a name board, tracks the flight and waits free for 60 minutes after landing.
You receive the driver's name and plate number the day before, so you can check them before you get in, and the driver sends a live location when he or she sets off. Pickups between 00:00 and 05:00 carry a 20% night surcharge, shown in your fixed quote. Our post on arriving late at night covers night arrivals in more detail.
Getting to the Haram and back
In Makkah and Madinah, hotels in the central areas are within walking distance of the mosques. If you stay further out, such as Kudai or Aziziyah in Makkah, a short taxi costs from SAR 60 per car, or SAR 90 with a female driver. Roads near the Haram close at peak prayer times, so the driver drops you at the nearest open point.
At Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah, the women's prayer areas have their own entrances, so if you travel with family, agree a meeting point outside before you go in. In both cities, agree your pickup point with the driver in advance and share your live location when you come out.
Ihram and the rites: what to ask a scholar
Women do not wear the two white sheets that men wear for Ihram, and at the end of Umrah women trim a small length of hair rather than shaving. Our Umrah step by step guide sets out the order and rough timings of each rite.
Other questions, such as how to plan if your period may fall during the trip, are for a scholar, so ask one you trust before you travel. Keep your transport flexible: changes are free whenever possible, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup.
Travelling as a group of women, or with children
For a group of up to 6, a female-driver comfort MPV keeps everyone in one car. Female drivers work in standard sedans and comfort MPVs only, so a larger group in a family van for up to 11 people has a licensed male driver, whose name and plate you receive the day before.
Mothers travelling with children can ask for child seats; tell us each child's age when you book. If an elderly mother uses a wheelchair, our wheelchair-accessible vans have a rear ramp. See our guide to Umrah with children, and our post on taxi safety for women for simple habits on any ride.