Umrah Packages from Washington
Flight-inclusive Umrah for pilgrims from the Washington, DC metro area, departing via IAD, DCA & BWI.
Umrah from Washington made simple
Dulles is one of the five US airports our airfare is priced from, so for much of the capital region the flight to Saudi Arabia can start fairly close to home. Metro's Silver Line runs to the airport, and an indoor tunnel links its station to the main terminal, so you don't have to step outside with your bags. Live nearer Reagan National or BWI? You still have a choice. Fly from the closer airport and connect, with the team confirming any change to the airfare before you book, or come to Dulles and start there. A Dulles departure has a few quirks worth planning for, from the AeroTrain to long-stay parking.
Departures
IAD, DCA & BWI
Routing
Dulles (IAD) is a priced gateway. Starting from Reagan National or BWI instead may add to the airfare, and that figure is confirmed before booking.
Community
The capital has had a landmark mosque for almost seventy years. The Islamic Center of Washington on Embassy Row was dedicated on June 28, 1957, and President Eisenhower spoke at the ceremony. The suburbs have built their own institutions since. The All Dulles Area Muslim Society, known as ADAMS, was started in 1983 by a small group of families in Herndon and Reston. Its main campus is now in Sterling, with full-service campuses in Ashburn, Chantilly and Leesburg.
Getting to Makkah from Washington
For most of Northern Virginia and the District, the simplest plan is to start at Dulles. The Dulles Airport Metrorail station is joined to the main terminal by an indoor tunnel with moving sidewalks. The airport puts it at about 600 feet, roughly a five-minute walk, and the tunnel gives access to the ticketing and baggage claim levels. The airport's FAQ says bags can't currently be checked at the platform, so you'll wheel everything through.
Families in Maryland may be closer to BWI. BWI's own directions for reaching Dulles by rail run through Union Station: Amtrak or MARC south, then Metro's Red Line to Metro Center and the Silver Line out to the airport. Reagan National has a Metrorail station of its own, linked to Terminal 2 by enclosed pedestrian bridges, and travelers at Terminal 1 can take an airport shuttle bus to reach it.
From Dulles, the routing depends on the season and the schedule, and it may include a connection through a European, Turkish or Gulf hub. With a connection, budget roughly 14 to 19 hours of travel before you reach Jeddah or Madinah. After that, the rest of the way to Makkah is on the ground.
Leave time for the AeroTrain
The AeroTrain links the main terminal with the midfield gates, and its terminal station sits just past the TSA checkpoints. The ride between stations takes under two minutes, but walking to the platform, waiting and walking again at the other end all add up, especially with elderly parents or small children. Coming home is simpler. Passengers on most international arrivals don't ride the AeroTrain at all, because they have to clear US customs first.
Parking while you're away
The Dulles economy lot has no minimum or maximum stay, and a free shuttle runs between it and the terminal around the clock, picking up at Curb 2F. There's one rule to know if your plans stretch: cars left longer than 45 days must be registered with the parking office. Otherwise they can be treated as abandoned and removed at the owner's expense. The parking office is on 703-572-4500 if you need to register or ask a question.
An urgent passport in the District
The Washington Passport Agency is at 600 19th Street NW, on the first floor at sidewalk level. It takes appointments only, Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and it's closed on federal holidays. Appointments go to people flying abroad within 14 calendar days, or needing a foreign visa within 28. The State Department doesn't charge to book, and it says any fee asked for an appointment should be treated as fraudulent.
Three ways to go from Washington
Seven nights, flights included. The tier decides how close your hotels are.
- AffordableVoco Makkah (IHG)5-7 minutes by shuttle, or about 15 minutes' walkShaza Regency PlazaAbout 3 minutes' walk$1,590per person, quad
- PremiumRotana Jabal Omar MakkahUnder 2 minutes' walkPullman Zamzam MadinahUnder 1 minute's walk$1,790per person, quad
- LuxurySwissotel Makkah, Clock TowerFacing the HaramAnwar Al Madinah MövenpickFacing Masjid an-Nabawi$1,890per person, quad
Umrah from Washington: questions
Not at all. Reagan National and BWI simply aren't priced gateways, while Dulles is. Departing from either of the other two may cost more in airfare, and the team will give you that figure before anybody books. After that it's a straight trade: a shorter trip to the airport against the difference in price. If you settle on Dulles and would rather not drive, Metro's Silver Line is one way to reach it.
Yes. Dulles has an Interfaith Chapel that is open 24 hours a day, and the airport's chapel page lists a Muslim prayer service on Fridays at 1:30 p.m. Scripture and reading material are kept there in several languages, Urdu among them. Service times can change, so check the page close to your travel date and ask at an information desk for directions. Because the chapel never closes, it's also there for prayer at other times of day.
Our 7-night flight-inclusive packages run from $1,590 to $1,890 per person on quad occupancy, with airfare, the e-visa, medical insurance, both hotels and the Haramain train inside that figure.