Hajj 2025: Rules, Travel Dates, and All You Need to Know

There comes a moment in every believer’s life when the road to Mecca is not just a journey—but a calling.

Hajj, one of the five sacred pillars of Islam, isn’t simply about travel. It’s about standing still in the heart of faith. Every Muslim, if they’re strong enough and can afford it, is expected to go—at least once. Not for show. Not out of obligation. But because something within begins to whisper: now is the time.

In 2025, Hajj is expected to fall between June 4 and June 9. That’s the 8th to 13th of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Still, like the moon that guides its dates, Hajj doesn’t always follow the clock. It waits for the moon’s quiet nod.

But ask anyone who’s been—and they’ll tell you—this isn’t about dates. It’s about the feeling. About joining millions of strangers who, for a few days, aren’t strangers at all. People from different lands, speaking different tongues, walking the same path with hearts laid bare.

It’s not a trip. It’s a surrender.

Hajj 2025

In 2025, Hajj is expected to unfold between June 4 and June 9—a stretch of sacred days that correspond with the 8th to the 13th of Dhul Hijjah, the final month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Of course, like so much in the Islamic tradition, the exact dates may shift slightly—waiting, as always, on the soft approval of the moon.

Here’s a closer look at the days that shape this holy pilgrimage—and what each one carries in its heart:

• May 28, 2025 (1st Dhul Hijjah)
  The sacred month begins. These are not ordinary days. These are the ten most blessed days in the entire Islamic year—a time when every prayer carries weight, and every moment becomes a doorway to grace.
• May 31, 2025 (4th Dhul Hijjah)
  The skies begin to close. This is the final day for non-Saudi flights bringing pilgrims into the Kingdom. By now, the air in Saudi Arabia feels charged. Everyone who’s meant to be there… is arriving.
• June 4, 2025 (8th Dhul Hijjah) – The Day of Tarwiyah
  The first step into ritual. Pilgrims move to Mina, a tent city of white fabric and whispered prayers. It’s the beginning of the rites, but also the quiet before the storm of emotion that follows.
• June 5, 2025 (9th Dhul Hijjah) – The Day of Arafah
  The heart of Hajj. Standing on the plains of Arafah, wrapped in white, millions raise their hands toward the sky. It’s a day of tears, forgiveness, and deep silence. Nothing in Hajj compares to this.
• June 6, 2025 (10th Dhul Hijjah) – Eid al-Adha
  The day of sacrifice. Across the world, animals are offered in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s unwavering faith. For pilgrims, the rituals continue—layered with meaning, memory, and movement.
• June 7–9, 2025 (11th–13th Dhul Hijjah) – The Days of Tashreeq
  In Mina, the pilgrims remain. Stones in hand, they carry out the symbolic stoning of the Jamarat—rejecting evil, renewing faith. These final days are about reflection, patience, and finishing what one started.
  

Each of these dates isn’t just a dot on a calendar—they're stepping stones on a path walked by prophets and dreamers. If you’re planning your Hajj in 2025, know that every moment has its meaning. Every day is a verse in a sacred poem.

What’s New and the Rules for Hajj 2025

As millions prepare for the sacred journey of Hajj in 2025, Saudi Arabia has introduced a few updated guidelines—measures not meant to restrict, but to protect. These rules are shaped by experience, crafted with the well-being of every pilgrim in mind.

No Children Under 12
This year, little ones below the age of 12 won’t be allowed to join the pilgrimage. It’s a difficult decision, but one rooted in love and caution. The crowds, the heat, the sheer physical toll—Hajj isn’t easy, even for the strong. For children, it can be overwhelming. 

First-Time Pilgrims Get Priority
In a world where many wait a lifetime for their turn, this update feels fair. If you’ve never performed Hajj before, you’ll now be given priority. It’s a beautiful chance to open the gates wider, to let more first-timers experience the pilgrimage with fresh hearts and wide eyes.

Single-Entry Visas from February 1, 2025
Pilgrims will be granted a single-entry visa—valid only for Hajj—starting February 1. This step helps maintain order and clarity, ensuring that everyone entering the Kingdom for Hajj is accounted for, prepared, and traveling with the right intentions.

Health Comes First
Vaccinations and health checks will be a must for all. Meningitis, COVID-19 (if applicable), and other health screenings will form part of the preparation. It’s not just about ticking boxes—it’s about protecting one another in such a densely packed, emotionally charged gathering. Think of it as an act of communal care.

How to Apply for Hajj 2025: A Guide for Indian Pilgrims

If your heart is set on Mecca in 2025, if you've been saving quietly, praying gently, and dreaming of standing in that sacred space—then it's time to begin the journey with the first step: the application.

The Deadline

The Haj Committee of India has given more time—perhaps to allow a few more prayers to be whispered, a few more plans to fall into place. The final date to submit your application online is September 30, 2024.

Who Can Go

Not everyone can undertake this pilgrimage. It's a commitment of the body, the spirit, and the wallet.

To apply, you must:

• Be a Muslim citizen of India.
• Have a machine-readable Indian passport issued before the deadline, and valid at least until January 15, 2026.
• Be physically fit and financially ready to make this sacred journey.
• And if you’re under 12 years of age, your time will come—but not this year.

A Path for Women

For too long, some women were left behind—not because they lacked faith, but because they lacked a male companion. In 2025, the rules bend slightly in their favour. 500 seats have been kept aside under the Mehram Quota, offering another chance for women to go—alone, but never truly alone.

What Comes Next

If your name is among the chosen, there are more steps:

• A deposit must be made as a mark of your commitment. You now have until October 31, 2024 to do so.
• Your original passport—the very document that will carry your name across borders—must be submitted by February 1, 2025.
  

Travel Logistics and Preparations for Hajj 2025

Hajj isn’t something you just go on. You prepare for it the way you would for something life-changing—with thought, care, and quiet anticipation. It’s a journey that begins long before your feet touch the sands of Mecca.

1. Flights and First Steps

From the corners of India, pilgrims begin to gather. Kochi’s airport saw its first Hajj flights take off on May 16, 2025, with more scheduled till the 22nd. Up north, after a brief silence, Srinagar’s runway once again echoed with the hum of Hajj-bound aircraft as SpiceJet resumed services on May 14.

Wherever you're from—whether it’s a small town tucked into the hills or a bustling metro—you’ll need to check with the Haj Committee of India or your travel agent. They’ll help you find your embarkation point, your flight, your place in this vast movement of faith.

2. Where You’ll Rest Your Head

In Mecca and Medina, the place you sleep will depend on the kind of package you choose.

• Non-shifting packages let you settle into one hotel and stay put. There’s comfort in that kind of stability—one set of walls, one view, one rhythm.
• Shifting packages, on the other hand, involve change. Maybe you begin in Aziziya, a little removed from the holy mosque, and later move closer to the Haram as the days of Hajj draw near.
  

There’s no one right way. Choose what suits your pace, your body, your budget.

3. Moving Between the Sacred Sites

The Hajj is not static. It’s a physical act of devotion, with every step steeped in meaning. But it also requires logistics. Movement.

• The Saudi government provides buses to carry pilgrims between the holy sites—Mecca, Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah. They come in fleets, regulated and essential.
• Some prefer the ease of private transport—cool buses, sometimes SUVs. For the elderly, for those with specific needs, this comfort can make all the difference.
  

Whatever path you choose, make sure the wheels beneath you are dependable. Because during Hajj, even a journey of a few kilometers can feel like part of the pilgrimage itself.

The Five Pillars of Islam

To understand Hajj, you have to start at the foundation. Islam rests on five pillars—not rigid rules, but guiding lights that shape a Muslim's everyday life. They are less about ritual and more about rhythm. The rhythm of belief, of prayer, of giving, of fasting, and finally, of journeying.

Shahada: the first, and the heartbeat of it all. It’s a whisper and a promise: that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger. Every prayer, every act of kindness, grows from this simple but powerful truth.

Salat is next. The five daily prayers. Not a chore, but a pause. A breath in a busy world. Moments scattered across the day, gently pulling one back to the center—back to God.

Zakat follows -giving to those who need it. It’s not charity, not really. It’s more like sharing what was never fully yours to begin with. A reminder that wealth isn’t just to be counted, but to be used kindly.

Then comes Sawm: the fast during Ramadan. From sunrise to sunset, Muslims abstain from food and drink, yes, but it’s more than that. It’s a quiet act of self-discipline, a month-long reminder that the body isn’t everything. That hunger can teach gratitude, and restraint can bring clarity.

And then, there is Hajj.

The final pillar. The most physically demanding, and yet, the most soul-stirring. It’s a journey to Mecca, but it’s also a journey inward. For those who are able—health-wise, money-wise—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment where millions move as one. Strangers, yet familiar. Equal in white robes, equal in prayer. In that sacred desert, faith becomes movement. Devotion becomes visible.

These five pillars aren’t boxes to be ticked. They’re acts of love. Of surrender. And Hajj? Hajj is the crescendo—the ultimate expression of unity, humility, and faith under one vast sky.

Final Thoughts Before You Begin Your Hajj 2025 Journey

Preparing for Hajj isn’t just about bags and bookings—it’s about settling the soul before it steps into something vast, something eternal. As you get ready for this once-in-a-lifetime journey, here are a few humble suggestions to help smooth the road ahead.

Let Technology Lend a Hand – The Nusuk App

Think of the Nusuk app as your digital companion on this sacred path. It’s not flashy or overbearing—it just quietly helps with the details so your mind can stay on what truly matters.
From applying for your visa to checking your accommodation, from planning each ritual to tracking transport—it’s all tucked into this one simple app.

Don’t wait until the last minute. Download it early. Take some time to explore it before you go. It’s one less thing to worry about once you're there.

Keep Your Ears Open to the Right Voices

The desert can speak in whispers. So can official updates.
Stay connected to the Haj Committee of India and the Nusuk platform—they’ll be your go-to sources for any changes, announcements, or health advisories. In a place where millions move together, being informed helps you move with grace.

Stay Connected Without the Clutter – Matrix Saudi Arabia eSIM

When you're thousands of miles from home, connection matters. Not just spiritually—but practically, too. Whether you're sharing a moment with loved ones back home, navigating the holy sites, or just checking your schedule, a reliable data connection can be a quiet blessing.

The Matrix Saudi Arabia eSIM is made for travelers like you—who want to stay light, move freely, and avoid the usual SIM-swapping fuss.

Here’s what it offers:

• Flexible Data Plans – from 1 GB to 50 GB, good for 30 days.
• Fast Connectivity – smooth 5G/4G/LTE speeds, so you’re never left buffering.
• Solid Coverage – rides on Zain’s dependable network across Saudi Arabia.
• Easy Activation – just scan a QR code. No tiny SIM cards to fumble with.
• Works with Most Modern Phones – especially the latest iPhones and Samsung Galaxies.
  

In the end, the logistics are just the scaffolding. What you’re really building is something invisible—a memory, a prayer, a kind of stillness.
Walk gently. Be prepared. And let the journey unfold in its own sacred rhythm.

Conclusion

Hajj in 2025 isn’t just a trip marked on a calendar—it’s a calling that reaches into the heart of every believer. This year, the journey comes with better systems, smoother processes, and tools to make the path easier. But the soul of it remains unchanged.

No matter how modern the world becomes, the essence of Hajj lies in surrender—in walking where millions have walked before, in standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers who feel like kin. If you prepare with care and carry patience like a trusted companion, this journey can change you in ways you didn’t expect. It’s not just about reaching Mecca. It’s about what awakens in you along the way.