Madinah travel for Umrah groups
Most company Umrah trips include several days in Madinah. It is calmer than Makkah and easier to walk, but the Rawdah permit, the Ziyarat programme and the train or flight between the cities still need planning.
The key facts
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Airport | Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport (MED), with flights from Pakistan. |
| Train | The Haramain high-speed railway links Madinah with Makkah in about two hours twenty minutes, and with Jeddah. |
| Masjid an-Nabawi | Open 24 hours. Non-Muslims may not enter the mosque or its courtyard. |
| Rawdah | A permit booked in the Nusuk app is needed to pray in the Rawdah, with separate slots for men and women. |
| Vaccinations | Meningococcal ACWY vaccine for all pilgrims aged one year and over (conjugate within five years, or polysaccharide within three years, given at least 10 days before arrival). Travellers from Pakistan also need a polio vaccine dose within the previous 12 months and at least four weeks before arrival. |
Madinah first or Makkah first
Groups either start in Madinah and travel to Makkah in ihram, or perform Umrah first and finish in Madinah. Starting in Madinah gives first-time pilgrims a gentler introduction and time to rest after the flight. Finishing in Madinah gives a calmer end after the crowds of Makkah. Either works; the flight options from Pakistan often decide.
If the group travels from Madinah to Makkah for Umrah, they enter ihram at the miqat of Dhul Hulayfah, outside Madinah. Brief the group in advance.
Where to stay
Hotels in the central area around Masjid an-Nabawi are within a few minutes’ walk of the mosque gates, and the area is flat. For women in the group, hotels near the women’s entrances make the daily walk shorter. Further hotels are cheaper but the walk grows quickly in the heat.
Booking the Rawdah permit
The Rawdah is the area between the Prophet’s pulpit and his chamber. Visits are by permit only, booked in the Nusuk app. Each person books their own slot, and confirmation is required close to the slot time. Slots fill fast in peak periods, so book as soon as the group is in Madinah — or before, if the app allows.
- Each pilgrim books in Nusuk
- Separate men’s and women’s slots
- Arrive early for the slot
Visits around Madinah
A half-day Ziyarat programme by coach usually includes Quba Mosque, Masjid al-Qiblatayn and Mount Uhud with the martyrs’ cemetery. We schedule it in the morning, before the heat, and avoid prayer times.
How Go Global plans it
Route
Fly into Madinah or Jeddah based on flights and order of visits.
Hotel
Central-area hotel near the right gates.
Train
Haramain tickets between Madinah and Makkah.
Ziyarat
Morning coach programme.
Partner
Go Global arranges corporate Umrah through our licensed Umrah partner.
Questions we are asked
Do I need a permit to visit Masjid an-Nabawi?
No. The mosque is open 24 hours. A Nusuk permit is needed only for the Rawdah.
How long is the train from Madinah to Makkah?
About two hours twenty minutes on the Haramain high-speed railway. Check the timetable for your date.
How many days should a group spend in Madinah?
Three to five days is common for company groups.
Which Ziyarat sites are usually included?
Quba Mosque, Masjid al-Qiblatayn and Mount Uhud are the usual core of a half-day programme.
Planning Madinah for a staff group?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips since 2020, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.