Significant Drop in Umrah Packages Due to End of Hajj Season and Summer Heat

Islamabad: In response to the intense summer heat marking the end of the Hajj season, Umrah packages have seen a notable 25% reduction in prices. Many individuals have postponed their Umrah plans until September, when the weather is more temperate, resulting in a considerable decrease in overall package costs.
Umrah Season Begins with Unusual Discounts
Umrah agents are offering unprecedented discounts on packages due to low demand at the onset of the Umrah season. Compared to colder months, Umrah packages are currently up to 25% cheaper.
Dubai’s Gulf Times spoke with Umrah agents, who reported a reluctance among pilgrims to undertake Umrah due to the scorching heat. Additionally, more than 1500 deaths from heat-related causes during Hajj have dissuaded individuals from embarking on Umrah journeys.
In contrast to the UAE’s accustomed warmth, even locals are delaying their Umrah plans. Unlike Pakistan and other countries where extreme heat is less of a concern, residents are opting out of Umrah programs.
48-year-old Arif Hussain from Dera Ismail Khan had planned an Umrah program in July but postponed it until September after hearing about the deaths during Hajj. He expressed his morale being affected by the news.
It’s important to note that temperatures around Mecca and its vicinity soared to 50 degrees Celsius during the current Hajj season, forcing millions of pilgrims to walk without shade and depriving them of adequate rest, especially affecting elderly, frail, and ill individuals.
During colder months, Umrah packages start from AED 3200 for air travel and AED 1600 for bus travel. Currently, a four-day Umrah package starts from AED 2500 for air travel and AED 1100 for bus travel.
Shahab Parwaaz of Rehan Al Jazeera Tourism informed Gulf Times that Umrah packages in the final ten days of Ramadan were priced at AED 6000 and AED 2500 respectively, providing accommodations in well-serviced hotels near Masjid al-Haram and Masjid-e-Nabwi.
Despite the adverse conditions, Umrah agents continue to charge premium rates for accommodations in close proximity to the holy mosques.