1 · The short answer

Ramadan is when Umrah is busiest, and the whole trip now runs through your phone. Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, so it moves about eleven days earlier each year. Check the Nusuk app and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the dates and the rules that apply to your travel.

Install the Nusuk app and sign in before you fly, while you still have your home connection for verification codes, and keep your permits on the phone. Ringo Light's Saudi Arabia plan covers Makkah, Madinah and the rest of the kingdom with unlimited data at full speed.

Ringo Light's Saudi Arabia plan covers the whole of Saudi Arabia: unlimited data at full speed, 2 weeks for $22.99 or 30 days for $50.99, nothing renews. The plan is at ringoesim.com/saudi-arabia, and every brand's price for Riyadh is compared on one day in Best eSIM for Riyadh.

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2 · Permits and the Nusuk app

The Nusuk app, from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, is where pilgrims get the Umrah permit and book a time slot for the Rawdah at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. In Ramadan, slots are limited and fill fast, so check the app daily.

Keep your permits on the phone as well as in an email. Take screenshots, since a QR code is no use if the page will not load in a crowd.

3 · Crowds, timing and signal

Ramadan brings very large crowds to both mosques, and the busiest hours are around the evening prayers and the last ten nights. Plan walking times generously, agree a meeting point with your group and share your location with them before you leave the hotel.

Saudi networks are strong, but tens of thousands of phones around the Haram slow data. Download maps and tickets in advance and expect messages to go through while photos and video stall.

4 · Between Makkah and Madinah

  • ✓Haramain high-speed train. It links Makkah, Jeddah, King Abdullah Economic City and Madinah. Book through the Saudi Arabia Railways site or app and keep the ticket offline; trains are busy in Ramadan.
  • ✓Airports. Jeddah's King Abdulaziz airport serves Makkah, and Madinah has its own airport. Check your operator's transfer plan.
  • ✓Taxis and ride apps. Uber and Careem work in both cities, though roads near the mosques are closed or crowded at prayer times.

5 · What your phone has to do

  • ✓Nusuk. Permits, Rawdah booking and updates from the Ministry. Sign in before you leave home.
  • ✓Maps. Offline maps for walking between hotel and mosque, and the route to the train station.
  • ✓Group chat. A shared chat and live location help families and groups who lose each other in the crowd.
  • ✓Paying. Cards and phone wallets are widely accepted, and many shops in the mosque districts take cards.
  • ✓Battery. Long days and constant checking drain a phone. Carry a power bank.

6 · Which plan covers the trip

Ringo Light's Saudi Arabia plan gives unlimited data at full speed in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and Riyadh. It arrives by email, installs in one scan and needs no app. For a typical Umrah of up to two weeks, choose a plan length that covers your whole stay, and install it before you fly so Nusuk is ready when you land. Plan prices are shown on the plan page.

7 · Frequently asked questions

When is Umrah busiest?+
Ramadan is the busiest time. Its dates follow the lunar calendar and move each year, so check the Nusuk app and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Do I need the Nusuk app?+
Yes. It is where the Umrah permit and Rawdah slots are handled. Install it and sign in before you fly.
How do I travel between Makkah and Madinah?+
The Haramain high-speed train links the two cities. Book through Saudi Arabia Railways and keep your ticket offline.
Will my phone work near the mosques in Ramadan?+
Yes, but speeds fall in the biggest crowds. Download permits, tickets and maps in advance.
Which Ringo Light plan covers Makkah and Madinah?+
Ringo Light's Saudi Arabia plan covers both cities and the rest of the kingdom with unlimited data at full speed.

8 · Sources

  • Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: www.haj.gov.sa/en, Umrah rules and dates
  • Nusuk: nusuk.sa/, permits and bookings
  • Saudi Arabia Railways, Haramain train: www.sar.com.sa/, Makkah to Madinah tickets
  • Ringo Light: prices from the catalogue our checkout charges, on the day you read this.

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