How to use this umrah checklist for women
This checklist is designed to be used as a working document. Start by copying it to your ChecklistFox account so you can tick items off, add your own, and share progress with others.
Copy the template to your account
Click "Copy template" to save it to your ChecklistFox workspace. Free - no card required.
Customise for your needs
Add personal health items, Mahram travel details, or group-specific tasks. Adjust abaya count based on laundry plans and trip length.
Share with your Mahram or family
Send a link to your Mahram, mother, or travel companion so everyone can track documents, packing, and pre-departure tasks together.
Download a PDF for your suitcase
Export as PDF and keep a copy in your luggage - useful for last-minute packing checks and offline reference during rituals.
Pro tip:Plan around your menstrual cycle before booking travel dates if possible. Women cannot perform Tawaf or Sa'i during menstruation or postnatal bleeding - though you may still enter the masjid and make dua. ORS / electrolyte sachets are the item most women forget - pack them from home. Skip bulky biscuits and snacks; Bin Dawood (including inside Abraj Al Bait) stocks everything you need. In summer heat, schedule Tawaf and Sa'i after Maghrib or before Fajr and avoid outdoor walking between about 10 am and 3 pm. Speak with a knowledgeable scholar about your options if your cycle coincides with your trip.
What's included in this checklist
This umrah checklist for women is structured across 8 sections - giving you clear priorities at each stage without being overwhelmed by a single massive list. Here's what each section covers:
Planning & Booking
Start here 4-8 weeks before travel. Consider your travel dates carefully and confirm Mahram requirements if applicable to your visa. Hotels inside Abraj Al Bait (Fairmont, Swissotel) are walking distance to the Haram; Aziziyah options are cheaper but rely on shuttle buses - confirm frequency before booking.
- Book Umrah package or arrange flights and hotels independently (Important)
- Apply for Umrah visa through authorised agent or official channels (Important)
- Confirm Mahram travel requirements for your visa type (Important)
- Prefer hotels inside or beside Abraj Al Bait for direct walking access (no shuttle) (Important)
- If budgeting for Aziziyah or shuttle hotels, confirm transfer frequency to the Haram
- Plan travel dates around menstrual cycle if possible
- Arrange airport transfers and transport between Makkah and Madinah
- Purchase travel insurance covering Saudi Arabia
- Inform employer and arrange leave dates
Documents & Finances
Keep originals and copies of every document. Store digital backups in cloud storage accessible without roaming data.
- Valid passport (6+ months validity from travel date) (Important)
- Umrah visa and entry permit (Important)
- Mahram relationship proof if required by visa (marriage or birth certificate)
- Vaccination certificates (meningitis ACWY and any current requirements) (Important)
- Flight tickets - printed and saved offline
- Hotel booking confirmations for Makkah and Madinah
- Travel insurance documents
- Saudi Riyals in cash and international debit/credit card (Important)
- Hotel name and address written on paper - not only on phone (Important)
- Emergency contact list - written down, not only on phone
- Copies of all documents - physical and digital backup
Ihram Attire & Modest Clothing
Women enter Ihram in regular modest clothing - not the white sheets worn by men. Pack loose cotton or linen abayas in light colours; most pilgrims bring one per day, or three to four if doing laundry. Wear leggings underneath - you will walk long distances on marble floors in heat and crowds.
- Cotton or linen abayas in light colours - 1 per day, or 3-4 if doing laundry (Important)
- Hijabs and undercaps - pack several extras (Important)
- Thin cotton capri leggings or trousers under abaya - prevents chafing (Important)
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip (Important)
- Easy slip-on slippers or sandals for the Haram (Important)
- Umbrella - bring from home rather than buying there (Important)
- Wide-brim hat, sunglasses, and SPF 50+ sunscreen for outdoor heat
- Socks for marble floors and hotel use
- Light cardigan or shawl for air-conditioned areas
- Safety pins and hijab magnets
- Laundry soap or travel wash - or budget for hotel laundry
- Small crossbody bag for Haram visits (Important)
- Light drawstring bag to carry slippers during Tawaf
- Plastic shoe bags for storing footwear at the Haram
Haram Day Bag Essentials
What experienced sisters keep in a small crossbody for Haram days. Travel light - Quran and Zamzam are easy to get in Makkah.
- Phone and small power bank (Important)
- Cash in Saudi Riyals and hotel name/card on paper (Important)
- Foldable prayer mat or paper sujjada (Important)
- Small empty bottle to fill with Zamzam (Important)
- ORS / electrolyte sachets (Important)
- Tissues, wet wipes, and face masks
- Unscented Vaseline for thighs (apply after shower before niyyah) (Important)
- Plastic or shoe bag for slippers (Important)
- 2-3 muslin or cotton cloths (hand-dry, cooling, emergency prayer cloth) (Important)
- Ziplock bags for wet cloths, snacks, and medicines
- Small dua booklet or printed duas (Important)
- Scissors or nail scissors for trimming hair after Umrah (Important)
- Basic medicines in a ziplock - paracetamol, ibuprofen, throat drops
- Light snacks only if needed (dates, nuts, ginger gum) - Bin Dawood is nearby
- Ladies hygiene essentials
Health, Hygiene & Personal Care
Pack unscented products for Ihram days and plan personal care items thoughtfully. ORS sachets are the item most pilgrims wish they had brought - long walking days on hot marble demand practical choices.
- Prescription medications with a doctor's letter (Important)
- ORS / electrolyte sachets - bring from home (Important)
- Pain relievers - paracetamol and ibuprofen
- Antidiarrheal medicine
- Unscented Vaseline for inner thighs - apply after shower before Umrah (Important)
- Diclofenac or muscle-relief cream for sore legs after Tawaf
- Blister plasters and cushioned insoles (Important)
- Unscented soap, shampoo, and deodorant for Ihram days (Important)
- Scented toiletries for after completing Umrah
- Menstrual supplies and small disposal / sanitary bags (Important)
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ and unscented lip balm (Important)
- Hand sanitiser, wet wipes, and tissues
- Face masks - useful in crowds and busy areas
- Throat drops and ginger chews for heat and dry air
- 2-3 cotton or muslin cloths - drying hands, prayer, and cooling off when wet
- Ziplock bags - for snacks, medicines, and wet cooling cloths
- Small first aid kit
Spiritual Preparation
Prepare your heart before your body. Learn the rituals, study the duas, and travel with a clear intention. Quran and Zamzam are readily available at the Haram - a pocket dua booklet and prayer mat are the spiritual items worth carrying daily.
- Learn the full sequence of Umrah rituals and their duas (Important)
- Memorise or print the Talbiyah and key supplications
- Small dua booklet for Umrah and visiting Madinah (Important)
- Folded travel prayer mat - carry in your Haram bag daily (Important)
- Pocket-sized Quran
- Settle outstanding debts and seek forgiveness before travelling
- Consult a scholar on rulings for menstruation during Umrah if needed
- List of people to make dua for during your journey
Umrah Rituals (Step by Step)
Tick off each ritual as you complete it. Women perform Tawaf and Sa'i at a comfortable pace - there is no Idtiba or Ramal for women. Do not force yourself or your companions.
- Perform ghusl before entering Ihram if possible; apply unscented Vaseline to prevent chafing
- Make intention (niyyah) for Umrah at the Miqat (Important)
- Change into Ihram clothing and recite the Talbiyah (Important)
- Enter Masjid al-Haram and perform Tawaf al-Umrah (7 circuits) (Important)
- Pray 2 rakahs behind Maqam Ibrahim after Tawaf
- Drink Zamzam - prefer room temperature, not ice-cold
- Perform Sa'i between Safa and Marwah (7 walks) (Important)
- Trim a fingertip-length of hair to exit Ihram (Important)
- Change into regular clothing and use fragrance after completing Umrah
- Additional Tawaf or quiet prayer near the Kaaba without forcing extra Umrahs
In Makkah & Madinah
Practical reminders from pilgrims who have been - worship, heat management, and making the most of your time. Bin Dawood supermarket near Abraj Al Bait is open 24 hours if you need snacks or supplies on arrival.
- Schedule Tawaf and Sa'i after Maghrib or before Fajr - avoid 10 am-3 pm outdoors in summer (Important)
- Stay hydrated - refill Zamzam often; avoid ice-cold Zamzam if prone to illness (Important)
- Perform daily prayers in Masjid al-Haram
- Visit Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah and pray in Rawdah (Important)
- Send salawat on the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Madinah
- Extra Tawaf for worship is encouraged - rest when tired rather than overexerting
- Visit Jannat al-Baqi and historical sites in Madinah
- Keep valuables in hotel safe - carry only essentials to the Haram
- Buy snacks and supplies at Bin Dawood near the Haram - no need to pack heavy from home
- Arrange a meeting point with Mahram or group in case separated
- Download offline maps and save hotel address
- Purchase dates and gifts for family before departure