Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia

The annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is among the largest mass gatherings in the world. It draws about 3 million Muslims from around the world, and more than 11,000 Americans make the pilgrimage each year. This year, Hajj will take place from approximately September 09–14, 2016 and will see triple digit temperatures. Umrah is a similar pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time of the year but is likely to be more crowded during the month of Ramadan (approximately June 5 to July 5, 2016).

Travelers are recommended to:

• Follow the Traveler Guidelines if you will travel to Saudi Arabia on behalf of UT Dallas.  Prepare for your trip and obtain institutional travel authorization.
• Read the CDC Yellow Book chapter on the Hajj Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
• Read the U.S. Department of State Hajj Fact Sheet.
• Read the CDC MERS travel alert for health recommendations to reduce your risk of infection.
• Learn about the Embassy of Saudi Arabia (Washington, DC) Hajj Requirements.
• Prevent mosquito bites. Visit the CDC Avoid Bug Bites page.
• Follow guidelines for hot climates. Visit the CDC Travel to Hot Climates and Sun Exposure pages.
• Follow the CDC advise for Travel to Mass Gatherings.

The risk information in this report is retrieved from U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and International SOS. It provides general guidance for UT Dallas travelers. Please note the publication date of this post, and go to the direct sources listed above for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this post may change without prior notice.