Getting the opportunity to perform Umrah is an ultimate desire of a believer. To be able to travel to the holy region through Umrah packages and undertake minor pilgrimage is something that Allah grants to whomever he wills.
Since Umrah travel requires all of the international travel requisites to be fulfilled as well as spending financial resources, not everyone can afford it. Yet it’s the dream of every Muslim. So, if you are planning for getting a free Umrah ticket, there are many ways to go about it.
Remember that getting a free Umrah ticket can be quite a challenge, but possible. Considering the expenses of Umrah travel like airfare, accommodation, and visa fees; here’s how you can get help in your quest for a free ticket.
Be a part of religious organizations and/or charities.
Many NGOs, religious organizations as well as charities have sponsorship programs that are specifically designed to support the financial expenditures of individuals who can’t afford the costs of Umrah. Therefore, you can contact the local mosques, Islamic centres, or charitable organizations in your area and ask them if they have any financial assistance programs going on for Umrah.
If they do, make sure that you fulfil their criteria or application processes by sharing details about your financial situation and reasons for Umrah’s performance. If you are lucky, you might be able to get a free Umrah ticket from them right away.
Keep an eye out for scholarships.
Many religious institutions and even individuals themselves offer scholarships for Umrah travel. These scholarships can cover some or all of the expenses associated with the journey. Therefore, if you want to get a free Umrah ticket from them, keep yourself updated with announcements from Islamic educational institutions, community organizations, or philanthropic individuals who may offer such scholarships. In this regard, you can check their websites, and social media pages, or subscribe to their newsletters for any information on Umrah scholarships.
Note that crafting a compelling application that highlights your financial need and the importance of Umrah in your life can be a plus point.
Participate in contests and giveaways.
Many Umrah travel agencies, Islamic airlines, and other Islamic organizations related to the Umrah travel industry occasionally organize contests and giveaways where one can easily win free Umrah tickets by participating.
The contest usually are in the form of;
- Quizzes.
- Writing competitions.
- Sharing personal stories related to Umrah.
Hence, follow the social media channels, websites, and newsletters of all such relevant organizations to never miss out on an opportunity for a free Umrah packages 2024 ticket. Engage yourself with their content and take part in as many contests and/or giveaways as you possibly can.
Note that, these opportunities require patience and persistence i.e., initially you might not win several times but never stop trying.
If you honestly desire Umrah performance, sharing your personal thoughts with your local Muslim community can lead to unexpected support from them. You can talk to respected community members, religious leaders, or community organizers in this regard and get financial sponsorship.
Sometimes, community members themselves step forward voluntarily to support those who can’t cover the Umrah expenses themselves and sometimes they refer them to such organizations offering sponsored Umrah travel. That’s why it’s essential to express your genuine intentions and show your honest dedication to embarking on the spiritual journey of Umrah.
Consider fundraising.
Last but not least, if nothing works for you, you can organize a personal fundraising campaign and ask your friends, family, and community to take part in it. Utilizing online crowdfunding platforms is another beneficial option to spread the word about your campaign.
However, one thing to be mindful of is that you must clearly explain your intentions for travel and the significance of Umrah in your life. That’s the only way you’ll get people to raise funds for you genuinely.
Also, regularly update your supporters on the progress of your fundraising efforts and necessarily consider all of the legal and ethical guidelines for fundraising.
Under Saudi Vision 2030 plan.
In late 2019, Saudia Arabia introduced its ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ plan under which a lot of the policies regarding Hajj and Urmah travel were also revised and reinvented. As per the new rules;
- It was permitted for the pilgrims to travel to the region on their tourist visa as well as perform the holy rituals of the minor pilgrimage on it. In other words, requiring a specific Umrah visa was not a necessity to offer a minor pilgrimage.
- Umrah can be performed by Muslims travelling to the region on all visa types. For instance, a business visa, tourist visa, family visa, etc.
- The validity of a visit visa can be extended easily and there’s no restriction of travel on it as well.
- Visit visas can be applied for individually through e-services (e-visa) as well as can be obtained through visa-on-arrival facilities in the region.
- The visit visa to the kingdom not only permits Umrah performance but also the pilgrims can travel to any region in Saudia Arabia legally. It was not allowed on an Umrah visa as one can only travel between the vicinities of Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah.
- The list of eligible countries for visit visas to the kingdom is present on the official website of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
- If you fulfil all the requisites of the visit visa criteria, you can get it and offer Umrah rituals on it without any hassle.
So, these are some of the ways that can help you get a free Umrah ticket.
