Saudi Arabia has changed how Hajj is booked for pilgrims coming from abroad. From the Hajj 2027 season (1448 AH), everything a pilgrim needs, from the tents at the holy sites to the hotel in Makkah, the buses and the meals, comes as one all-in-one package under a single digital contract.
If you are planning Hajj from the UAE, here is what the new package means, the key dates for Hajj 2027, and where UAE registration stands right now.
Last updated: 4 October 2026.
Hajj 2027 at a glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Hajj season | 1448 AH, from 8 to 13 Dhul Hijjah |
| Expected Day of Arafah | Saturday 15 May 2027, subject to the moon sighting |
| Expected Hajj days | About 14 to 19 May 2027 |
| UAE registration | Closed. It ran from 14 to 25 September 2026 |
| UAE results | Approved pilgrims to be announced on 9 October 2026 |
| New for 2027 | One all-in-one package and one contract for overseas pilgrims |
What is Saudi Arabia’s new all-in-one Hajj package?
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced at the end of September 2026 that pilgrims from abroad will get a single, complete package covering the whole journey, from arrival in the Kingdom until departure. It has four core services:
- Services at the holy sites: Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, including the camps
- Accommodation: hotels in Makkah and Madinah
- Transport: between the cities and the holy sites
- Catering: meals throughout the trip
On top of these, there are optional extra services, so Hajj offices can build different programmes for different groups of pilgrims and budgets.
What actually changes for pilgrims?
Until now, Hajj organisers had to sign separate agreements with each service provider: one for the camp, one for the hotel, one for the transport and so on. From 2027, a pilgrims’ affairs office or licensed agency submits one electronic request and signs one contract that covers everything.
The ministry says this will make the process simpler and more transparent, and make it clearer who is responsible for what. For you as a pilgrim, it should mean fewer surprises: what your package includes is set out in one place before you travel.
Do I book the package myself?
No. You still go through your country’s official Hajj route, such as the Awqaf authority in the UAE and its licensed Hajj operators. They contract the package for you on Nusuk Masar, the ministry’s digital platform, which launched in June 2024 to connect Hajj offices, service companies and the ministry. The ministry has already met Hajj offices from more than 75 countries to prepare for the 1448 season.
How do UAE citizens register for Hajj 2027?
Registration for Emiratis ran from 14 to 25 September 2026 through the website and smart app of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat (Awqaf). It is now closed.
- Selection: applications go through an automated screening based on Awqaf’s approved criteria and UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 32 of 2018
- Priority: the registration was for Emiratis who have not performed Hajj before
- Results: approved pilgrims will be announced on 9 October 2026 and then contacted to complete the next steps
- Last season: 6,228 Emirati pilgrims were approved for Hajj 2026
If you applied, keep an eye on the Awqaf app and your phone after 9 October. If you are approved, you will then choose and contract with a licensed Hajj operator.
Can UAE residents who are not Emirati go for Hajj?
The UAE registration above is for UAE citizens. If you are an expat living in the UAE, contact Awqaf at awqaf.gov.ae to ask about your options, or speak to the Hajj authority of your home country. Every country has its own quota and process, and the new all-in-one package applies whichever route you take.
If Hajj is not possible this year, many residents do Umrah instead, which can be done most of the year. The last date reported for Umrah travel ahead of the Hajj 2027 season is 7 April 2027.
How many people perform Hajj?
Last season, 1,707,301 pilgrims performed Hajj. Of these, 1,546,655 came from outside Saudi Arabia and 160,646 were from inside the Kingdom.
The Hajj days in 2027, step by step
The dates below are expected dates, based on the Day of Arafah falling on 15 May 2027. The final dates depend on the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah moon.
| Day | Expected date | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Dhul Hijjah | Friday 14 May | Day of Tarwiyah. Pilgrims go to Mina |
| 9 Dhul Hijjah | Saturday 15 May | Day of Arafah, the most important day of Hajj. Night in Muzdalifah |
| 10 Dhul Hijjah | Sunday 16 May | Eid Al Adha. Stoning, sacrifice and Tawaf |
| 11 to 13 Dhul Hijjah | 17 to 19 May | Days of Tashreeq in Mina, stoning the Jamarat |
Do not forget Madinah
Most Hajj packages also include a stay in Madinah to visit the Prophet’s Mosque, before or after Hajj. Under the new system, your hotel in Madinah is part of the same contract, so check which hotel and how many nights your operator is offering.
The bottom line
Hajj 2027 will be the first season with one package and one contract for pilgrims from abroad. If you are an Emirati who applied, the results are out on 9 October. Everyone else should start talking to Awqaf or their home country’s Hajj authority now. May Allah accept it from all who go.
Follow @dubaisecret_ on Instagram for UAE news that matters to you. Also this season: free Pink Caravan health screenings across the UAE.
Hajj dates are based on the Islamic calendar and are confirmed by the moon sighting. Registration rules are set by Awqaf in the UAE and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia, and may change. Always follow their official announcements.
