العربية
Umrah with children is very different from Umrah as a couple. Naps, meals, heat and crowds all shape the day, and a tired child can end a visit to the Haram early.
The ritual takes a few hours. The rest of the trip happens where you stay. This guide covers the rules for children, how to choose and set up family accommodation, and how to pace the trip so everyone has the energy for the Haram. It comes from the team at Best Trip Hotels, where families on Umrah are among our most regular guests at our serviced apartments in Jeddah.
Umrah Rules for Children at a Glance
Check these before you book flights. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah updates guidance from season to season, so confirm on Nusuk close to your travel date.
| Topic | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who can visit the Haram | Children of any age, as long as they do not disturb worshippers | Ministry of Hajj and Umrah |
| Umrah permit | Required for children over 5, through the Nusuk app | Ministry of Hajj and Umrah |
| Nusuk Card | Children and elderly pilgrims should carry it at all times | Ministry of Hajj and Umrah |
| Strollers | Listed among items to avoid bringing into the Grand Mosque | Ministry of Hajj and Umrah |
| ID wristbands | Free bracelets with guardian contact details, at King Abdulaziz Gate and King Fahd Gate (Gate 79) | Gulf News, December 2025 |
| Lost children | Taken to the Help Center in the Grand Mosque, run by its security force | Ministry of Hajj and Umrah |
| Meningococcal ACYW vaccine | Required for pilgrims aged one year and over, at least 10 days before arrival | Ministry of Health |
Choosing the Right Unit Size for Your Family
The right unit gives children a place to sleep while adults are still awake, and a kitchen so meals do not depend on restaurant hours. A single hotel room rarely does both.
Our guide on what is a serviced apartment explains what a typical unit includes. For family Umrah, this is how sizes usually work out:
| Family | Unit that usually works | Best Trip example |
|---|---|---|
| Two adults and a baby | One-bedroom apartment with a cot | Paris one-bedroom, 70 m², cot on request |
| Two adults and two children | Two-bedroom apartment | Paris two-bedroom, 90 m², one double bed and two singles |
| Two adults and three or four children | Two or three-bedroom apartment | Milano two or three-bedroom units |
| Large family with grandparents | Three-bedroom apartment, or two units side by side | Milano three-bedroom, up to 120 m²; connecting rooms at Al Andalus Tolen and Paris |
Our booking engine allows up to 6 adults and 4 children per room, but every unit has its own occupancy limit. Tell us your family’s ages and we will suggest the unit that fits.
If you are coming with three or more children, Best Trip Milano in Al Ajaweed has the widest range of family sizes. Our guide to south Jeddah districts describes the area around it.
Setting Up the Room for Children
A few minutes on arrival makes the whole stay safer and calmer.
Cots and extra beds
Under our terms and conditions, children under 6 stay free when they use existing beds. Extra beds and baby cots are available on request at every branch, subject to availability, and an extra charge may apply. Ask for them when you book, especially in Ramadan and school holidays, when they run out first.
Child safety
Al Andalus Tolen has baby safety gates and socket covers, and Best Trip Valencia in Jazan has child safety features. In any unit, check these on day one:
- Keep balcony doors locked. Best Trip Marsilia has balconies, so keep children away from them unsupervised.
- Move cleaning products and medicines to a high cupboard.
- Keep kettle and microwave cables out of reach.
- Show older children where the reception is, and save the phone number on their device.
Sleep and quiet
Children sleep better in a dark, cool room. Agree a housekeeping time with reception that does not clash with naps. At Best Trip Hotels, housekeeping is on request, so you decide when it happens.
Pool time
Best Trip Paris has a rooftop swimming pool, the only one in our group. It is a good reward after a long day, but children should always be supervised by an adult in the water.
Kids’ Meals in Your Apartment
Food is where families save the most stress. Restaurants near the Haram are crowded at mealtimes, and young children do not wait well.
Most Best Trip apartments have a kitchenette with a fridge, an electric kettle and a microwave, plus kitchenware. That is enough for:
- Warming milk and baby food at night.
- Breakfast before the drive or train to Makkah.
- Simple dinners when everyone is too tired to go out.
- Keeping fruit, yoghurt and water cold.
For the Haram, pack small snacks and a water bottle for each child. Avoid sticky or messy food inside the mosque.
A Rest-Day Plan That Works With Children
Children cope well with one big day followed by an easy one. Trying to do Umrah on the day you land is the most common mistake families make.
A simple one-week plan:
- Day 1: Land, check in, eat and sleep. If you arrive early, our guide to early check-in and late check-out explains how to get into your unit sooner.
- Day 2: Rest, shop for groceries and let children adjust to the time difference.
- Day 3: Umrah, starting early in the day, with a long nap afterwards.
- Day 4: A quiet day in Jeddah, such as a mall or the pool.
- Day 5: A second visit to the Haram, for prayers only.
- Day 6: Rest and pack.
- Day 7: Travel home.
Many families use Jeddah as a base for exactly this reason. Our guide to staying in Jeddah for Umrah works through the cost and
travel time for a family of five over a week.
At the Haram With Children
Masjid al-Haram welcomes children, but crowds and distances need a plan.
Strollers and carriers
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists baby strollers among items to avoid bringing into the Grand Mosque. A baby carrier or sling keeps your hands free and works in crowds. If you bring a folding stroller for the journey, leave it in the car or at your accommodation.
Wristbands and meeting points
In December 2025, the Grand Mosque introduced free identification bracelets for children, showing the guardian’s contact details. Staff at King Abdulaziz Gate and King Fahd Gate (Gate 79) help you register. Add your phone number on a card in your child’s pocket too.
Agree a meeting point before you enter, such as a numbered gate. If a child is lost, security takes them to the Help Center inside the mosque.
Timing your visit
Go early in the day or late in the evening, outside the peak heat. Avoid Friday prayers and the last ten nights of Ramadan with very young children, as these are the most crowded times of the year.
Splitting the family
Many parents take turns. One parent performs Tawaf and Sa’i while the other waits with the children in a calmer area, then they swap. This is often easier than keeping a toddler with you through both rituals.
Getting to Makkah and Back
By train. The Haramain train is fast and avoids traffic and parking near the Haram. Each passenger has a luggage limit, so pack one shared day bag. Our guide to the Haramain train in Jeddah covers stations, booking and baggage rules.
By car. A car is door to door and lets children nap on the way. If you rent a car, bring or book suitable child seats.
On the day, leave the main luggage at your accommodation. Our guide to hotel luggage storage in Jeddah also explains the Grand Mosque’s own free storage, which takes small bags for up to 4 hours.
Health and Safety for Children
See your doctor or travel clinic a few weeks before the trip.
- Meningococcal ACYW vaccine: required for children aged one and over, at least 10 days before arrival, according to the Ministry of Health.
- Heat: keep children in the shade, dress them in light clothes and give water often. Signs of heat exhaustion include tiredness, headache and very little urine.
- Medicines: bring fever and rehydration medicine your doctor recommends, in original packaging.
- Emergencies: call the Saudi Red Crescent on 997, then let our 24-hour reception know so we can help.
Booking Tips for Umrah Families
- Bring every child’s passport. Children’s documents are checked along with the adults’. Our guide to hotel check-in rules in Saudi Arabia explains what families need to show.
- Choose flexible terms. A sick child can change plans overnight. Our guide to the hotel cancellation policy explains deadlines and fees, and at Best Trip Hotels, cancelling at least 24 hours before check-in is free on prepaid bookings.
- Travelling with grandparents too? Plan for both ends of the age range. Our guide to Umrah with elderly parents covers lifts, bathrooms and wheelchairs at the Haram.
- Ask for cots early. Cots and extra beds depend on availability.
- Check rates for your dates. Our rates vary by season, and school holidays and Ramadan are the busiest periods for families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do children need an Umrah permit?
Yes, children over 5 need an Umrah permit through the Nusuk app, according to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Can I take a stroller into Masjid al-Haram?
The Ministry lists baby strollers among items to avoid bringing into the Grand Mosque. A baby carrier is the easier choice.
Where can I get a child wristband at the Haram?
Free identification bracelets are available at King Abdulaziz Gate and King Fahd Gate (Gate 79), where staff help you register your contact details.
Do children stay free at Best Trip Hotels?
Children under 6 stay free when they use existing beds. Extra beds and cots are available on request, subject to availability, and may carry a charge.
Do you provide baby cots?
Yes, baby cots are available on request at every branch, subject to availability. Ask when you book.
Which Best Trip branch is best for a large family?
Best Trip Milano in Al Ajaweed has units up to three bedrooms and 120 m². For families who want two units close together, Al Andalus Tolen and Paris have connecting rooms.
Is there anything for children to do in Jeddah between Umrah visits?
Yes. Best Trip Paris has a rooftop pool and is about 1.4 km from Mall of Arabia, which makes rest days easy to fill.
Plan a Family Umrah With Best Trip Hotels
A good family Umrah needs a place where children can sleep, eat and play between visits to the Haram. Our apartments are set up for that.
- For airport arrivals and pool time: Best Trip Paris in An Nuzhah, with one and two-bedroom apartments, a rooftop pool and cots on request.
- For large families: Best Trip Milano in Al Ajaweed, from studios to three-bedroom apartments.
- For extra child safety: Al Andalus Tolen in Al Baghdadiyah, with baby safety gates, socket covers and connecting rooms.
- For balconies and a family lounge: Best Trip Marsilia, on Sayed Al Shuhada Street in the Al Amir Fawwaz Al Junoobi district.
- For a month-long stay: City Zone and Istanbul, our monthly properties. Contact us for monthly terms.
Rates change with the season, so check the price for your dates. Call or WhatsApp our team on +966 547010115, 24 hours a day, with your children’s ages, and we will suggest the right unit and set aside a cot if you need one.
Book direct with Best Trip Hotels and give your children a calm home base for Umrah.
Sources
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Things to Remember (Umrah): https://haj.gov.sa/en/Umrah/Things-To-Remember
- Gulf News, “Grand Mosque introduces child safety bracelets for Umrah and Hajj visitors” (14 December 2025): https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/grand-mosque-introduces-child-safety-bracelets-for-umrah-and-hajj-visitors-1.500379566
- Saudi Ministry of Health, Health Regulations for Umrah: https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/HealthAwareness/Pilgrims_Health/Documents/Health-Regulations-Umrah-EN.pdf
- Best Trip Hotels, Services: https://besttripbt.com/services/
- Best Trip Hotels, Terms and Conditions: https://besttripbt.com/terms-conditions/
- Best Trip Paris branch page: https://besttripbt.com/best-trip-paris-jeddah/
- Best Trip Milano branch page: https://besttripbt.com/best-trip-milan-jeddah/
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