When your days in Madinah are over and you're heading down to Makkah, you're not just changing cities; you're starting a rite. You'll enter ihram on the way and arrive in Makkah wanting to perform tawaf and sa'i. That's why planning this ride is different from any other long drive, and it starts with a simple question: when do you want to reach the Haram?
The fare in one line
The car is priced per car, not per passenger, starting from 400 SAR in a sedan, and the miqat stop is part of the trip at no extra cost. Every class and booking details are on our Madinah to Makkah taxi page.
The journey, step by step
1. Hotel pickup
The driver arrives at your hotel door, in the central area or elsewhere, at the agreed time. Have your bags ready in the lobby, because getting out of the area around the Prophet's Mosque at busy times takes a little while.
2. Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali)
This is the miqat for Madinah and anyone passing through it, on the edge of the city near the start of the road. The driver stops so you can wash and change into ihram if you haven't already, then make your intention for Umrah. Many pilgrims bathe and dress in ihram at the hotel and only make the intention at the miqat, which keeps the stop short.
3. The highway
The total distance is around 450 km, and the drive takes roughly four and a half to five hours. There are service areas with mosques and restaurants along the way, and the driver will stop for prayer or coffee whenever you ask.
4. Arriving in Makkah
The driver takes you straight to your hotel. At peak times some roads around the Haram are closed to cars, in which case you'll be dropped at the nearest permitted point.
When to leave
- After Fajr: you arrive around midday and perform tawaf in daylight. Good for early sleepers.
- After Asr: you arrive in the evening when it's cooler; tawaf at night is easier in the summer months.
- After Isha: a quiet road and a late arrival. Fine for young travellers but tiring for older people and children.
Our advice: don't arrive in Makkah exhausted. Umrah involves a lot of walking, so pick a time that lets you rest briefly at the hotel before heading to the Haram if you need to.
Train or car?
The Haramain train is faster on paper, but you have to get to Madinah station, then take a car from Makkah station to your hotel, and work around the timetable and luggage limits. You also need to be in ihram before boarding or as you pass the miqat. For families with lots of bags or elderly relatives, door-to-door by car, with an unhurried stop at the miqat, is usually simpler.
Related rides you may need
- Madinah to Jeddah or Jeddah Airport, if you fly home from Jeddah.
- Madinah Airport to your Madinah hotel on arrival.
- A Madinah ziyarat tour that includes Wadi Al-Jinn.
See all prices in the fare guide, and our services within the city on the Madinah taxi page.
Questions pilgrims ask
Do I have to enter ihram at Dhul Hulayfah?
Yes. Anyone leaving Madinah intending Umrah has Dhul Hulayfah as their miqat and must not pass it without ihram. The driver knows the place and will stop.
How long is the miqat stop?
It depends on the number of passengers and whether they wash there or at the hotel. Take your time; it's part of the trip.
Can you take me from Madinah airport straight to Makkah?
Yes. Send your flight number and the driver will wait in arrivals with your name on a sign, with 60 minutes of free waiting after landing.
Is the fare the same whatever the number of passengers?
The fare is per car, so as long as passengers and bags fit the vehicle class you chose, it doesn't change.
To book, send your Madinah hotel, departure time and number of passengers to Mishwar Al Haramain on WhatsApp at +966582918075, or use the booking page. We work around the clock.