One vaccine is required for every Umrah pilgrim: meningitis ACWY, given at least 10 days before you arrive. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on or around 8 February, so if you’re going for Ramadan Umrah, your deadline falls in late January or February.
Umrah can be performed at any time of year, and the health rules apply whenever you go. This page covers what Saudi Arabia requires, what we recommend on top, and how to time it all for Ramadan Umrah 2027. We give Umrah vaccinations, including the meningitis ACWY vaccine and certificate, at Evans Pharmacy in Malvern and Claines Pharmacy in Worcester.
What’s required for Umrah
These are the Saudi Ministry of Health rules for the 1447H (2026) Umrah season. They’re reissued each year, and we check the current version at your appointment.
If you’re in one of the COVID-19 groups, Saudi Arabia accepts any one of three things: a dose of the updated 2025 to 2026 vaccine, a completed primary course given between 2021 and 2024, or laboratory-confirmed recovery from COVID-19 during 2025. Only some people are eligible for an NHS COVID-19 vaccine; if you aren’t, a private vaccine may be available.
Why the meningitis rule is enforced
It isn’t paperwork for its own sake. In the first months of 2025, the World Health Organization reported 17 confirmed cases of invasive meningococcal disease in several countries linked to pilgrimage travel to Saudi Arabia. All 11 of the first cases reported by Saudi Arabia were unvaccinated, and the Saudi authorities estimated that only around half of international Umrah pilgrims had met the vaccine requirement. A year earlier, in spring 2024, 12 cases were linked to Umrah travel, three of them in the UK.
Meningitis spreads in close crowds, and the Masjid al-Haram during Ramadan is one of the most crowded places on earth. The vaccine protects you, and it protects the family you come home to.
Ramadan Umrah 2027: when to book
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February, with Eid al-Fitr on or around 9 March. Final dates depend on the sighting of the moon. Ramadan is the busiest time of year for Umrah, and the winter months are when we see the most Umrah pilgrims.
Inside the 10-day window? Call us anyway and we’ll tell you what’s still possible.
Going for Ramadan Umrah? Book in early January so it’s done well before your deadline. Book in Malvern or book in Worcester.
What we recommend on top
The required vaccine gets you in. These are about getting home well.
Saudi Arabia also advises wearing a face mask in crowded places and during rituals, washing your hands often, and avoiding contact with camels, which can carry MERS. Our guide to staying healthy on Hajj covers heat, feet and food, and most of it applies to Umrah too.
Umrah with children or older relatives
Children aged one year and over need the meningitis ACWY vaccine like everyone else, and we’ll advise on the right vaccine for each child’s age. Pilgrims over 65 fall into the COVID-19 group for Umrah, so check their records before you book flights. Bring the whole family to one appointment and we’ll sort everyone’s certificates together.
Already had the vaccine?
You may not need it again. A conjugate vaccine counts for five years if the certificate states the type. Read how long the meningitis vaccine is valid for Umrah to check yours.
Ask our AI agent
Got a question about Umrah vaccinations, prices or booking? Our AI agent can help, day or night. It can’t decide whether a vaccine is right for you; that happens at your consultation.
What it costs
All prices match our current price list.
Frequently asked questions
Which vaccine is mandatory for Umrah?
The meningitis ACWY vaccine, for every pilgrim aged one year and over, given at least 10 days before arrival. COVID-19 vaccination applies to certain higher-risk groups under the 2026 rules.
Is the flu jab mandatory for Umrah?
No. It’s recommended, not required. It’s well worth having, particularly for Ramadan Umrah in the middle of the UK flu season.
How long before Umrah should I get the meningitis vaccine?
At least 10 days before you arrive in Saudi Arabia. We’d suggest booking at least two weeks before you fly, and earlier for Ramadan.
Do I need a new vaccine if I went for Umrah last year?
Probably not, if you had a conjugate vaccine and your certificate states the type. It counts for five years. Bring your certificate and we’ll check it.
Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine for Umrah?
Only if you’re in one of the groups the Saudi rules name: over 65, pregnant, or living with certain long-term conditions, a weakened immune system or cancer.
Are the rules different for Ramadan?
The vaccine rules are the same all year. What changes in Ramadan is demand, so book your appointment early.
Do you charge for the certificate?
No. The certificate is included with your £55 meningitis ACWY vaccination.
Written by the Malvern Travel Clinic team and based on Saudi Ministry of Health pilgrimage requirements and NaTHNaC TravelHealthPro guidance current at the date of review.
This guide is general information, not medical advice; your consultation determines what is right for you.
