Saudi Arabia is moving ahead with plans for a new airport in Makkah, a development that could eventually change how millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims reach the Holy City.
But there is one important point UK pilgrims should understand:
Makkah Airport is not open yet, and there are currently no passenger flights from the UK directly to Makkah.
As of September 2026, Saudi officials have confirmed progress on the airport’s planning, economic and investment framework, but no official opening date or airline schedule has been announced.
So what exactly has been approved, when could the airport open, and should UK pilgrims change the way they book Umrah?
Here is what we currently know.
Is Saudi Arabia Really Building an Airport in Makkah?
Yes.
Plans for an airport in Makkah have moved beyond simple speculation.
Saleh Al-Rasheed, CEO of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites, confirmed in 2026 that detailed studies had been carried out for an airport built to international standards.
He also confirmed that the project’s strategic, economic and investment directions have been approved.
The next stage involves working with the private sector to determine the most suitable investment and development model.
That makes the Makkah Airport project genuine.
However, it does not mean construction is complete or that flights are about to start.
Is Makkah International Airport Open Yet?
No.
Makkah does not currently have an operational commercial international airport serving Umrah pilgrims.
There are therefore no current flights such as London to Makkah, Manchester to Makkah, Birmingham to Makkah, or Glasgow to Makkah.
UK pilgrims still normally travel through existing Saudi airports.
King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah remains one of the main gateways for Makkah, while Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport serves pilgrims arriving through Madinah.
Saudi aviation authorities listed six international airports serving pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj operation, including Jeddah, Madinah, Yanbu, Taif, Riyadh and Dammam. A Makkah airport was not yet among the operational airports.
If you are planning an Umrah trip now, our guide on which airport is best for Umrah from the UK explains the current options.
What Exactly Has Been Approved for Makkah Airport?
This is where some online reports become misleading.
The confirmed announcement relates to approval of the project’s strategic direction, economic direction, and investment direction.
Officials have also said that detailed studies have been completed.
The Royal Commission intends to work with private-sector partners to create a suitable investment model while considering the commercial viability of airports in neighbouring cities.
That is significant progress.
But it is different from saying: “The airport is built and will open soon.”
At present, publicly confirmed information does not provide a firm passenger opening date.
When Will Makkah Airport Open?
There is currently no officially confirmed opening date for the proposed Makkah Airport.
That means travellers should be cautious with websites or social-media posts giving a specific opening year unless Saudi authorities formally announce it.
Large airport projects normally pass through several stages, which can include feasibility and planning, investment approval, financing and development model, detailed design, construction, testing and certification, airline and route arrangements, and commercial opening.
The Makkah Airport project has made important progress through the earlier planning and investment stages, but an official commercial launch date has not yet been published in the information currently available.
For now, UK pilgrims should continue booking their journey through existing airports rather than planning around a future Makkah flight.
Will UK Pilgrims Eventually Be Able to Fly Directly to Makkah?
That is one of the most interesting possibilities, but it is not confirmed yet.
If the future airport handles international passenger flights, it could potentially allow airlines to operate routes serving pilgrims closer to Makkah.
But no UK-Makkah airline routes have currently been announced.
We therefore cannot yet say whether there will eventually be direct flights from London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, or other UK airports.
Airlines would need to decide whether there is sufficient commercial demand, obtain the necessary route approvals and secure operating slots.
For anyone booking today, compare current services to Jeddah and Madinah instead. Our direct vs indirect Umrah flights guide explains how the two options differ for UK pilgrims.
Why Does Makkah Need Its Own Airport?
The reason is fairly easy to understand.
Makkah receives huge numbers of visitors for Umrah throughout the year, alongside intense Hajj traffic during a much shorter period.
At present, a large proportion of pilgrims arriving for Makkah pass through Jeddah.
King Abdulaziz International Airport alone handled approximately 6.16 million passengers connected with the 1447 AH Umrah season and more than 1.67 million Hajj pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj arrival and departure operation.
A future airport serving Makkah could potentially provide additional capacity and distribute passenger flows across the region.
That could become increasingly important as Saudi Arabia continues expanding infrastructure for pilgrims.
Would a Makkah Airport Eliminate the Jeddah-to-Makkah Transfer?
Potentially for some future passengers but not yet.
Today, travellers landing at Jeddah still need to continue to Makkah by another form of transport.
Common options include the Haramain High-Speed Railway, private transfer, taxi, or coach or organised package transport.
King Abdulaziz International Airport currently has a Haramain railway station providing direct rail connections towards Makkah and Madinah.
If a future Makkah airport is located closer to the city and connected efficiently to the transport network, it could reduce this additional journey for some passengers.
However, until the airport’s final location and transport connections are officially detailed, exact travel-time savings are speculation.
Will Makkah Airport Make Umrah Packages Cheaper?
Not necessarily.
This is another claim that should be treated cautiously.
A new airport could create more aviation capacity and potentially increase competition.
But an Umrah package price depends on much more than the airport. Major costs include airline fare, hotel price, travel dates, room sharing, length of stay, ground transfers, baggage allowance, airline availability, and Ramadan or school-holiday demand.
A new airport could reduce some ground-transfer costs in certain itineraries, but it could also initially attract premium fares if demand is high.
There is currently no evidence that Makkah Airport will automatically make Umrah packages cheaper.
If price is your main concern, compare currently available cheap Umrah packages rather than delaying your pilgrimage in anticipation of an unconfirmed future airfare.
Will Jeddah Airport Become Less Important?
Very unlikely.
The proposed Makkah Airport is being planned with the neighbouring airport network specifically in mind.
Saudi officials have said the development model should avoid negatively affecting the economic feasibility of nearby airports.
Jeddah has already developed into an enormous international aviation hub.
In the first seven months of 2026 alone, King Abdulaziz International Airport handled around 28.55 million passengers and 169,900 flights.
That scale suggests the future is more likely to involve multiple gateways serving pilgrims, rather than Makkah simply replacing Jeddah.
What About Madinah Airport?
Madinah will also remain extremely important for Umrah travellers.
Many UK pilgrims deliberately fly into Madinah first.
This allows them to visit Masjid an-Nabawi, spend several days in Madinah, travel onwards to Makkah, and enter Ihram at the appropriate point before travelling for Umrah.
Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport continues to expand. It handled around 11.7 million passengers during 2025, and an expansion project is intended to raise annual capacity to approximately 18 million passengers.
So even after a Makkah airport eventually opens, Madinah-first itineraries could remain attractive.
Makkah Airport vs the Makkah Route Initiative: Are They the Same Thing?
No.
This distinction is worth making because the names can easily confuse travellers.
Makkah Airport is the proposed physical airport project in or around Makkah that is currently going through development and investment planning.
The Makkah Route Initiative is a completely different Saudi programme.
It allows eligible Hajj pilgrims in participating countries to complete immigration and other entry procedures before leaving their home country. Their luggage is also processed so they can travel more smoothly to their accommodation after arriving in Saudi Arabia.
During the 1447 AH Hajj season, the programme operated through 17 entry points across 10 countries and served 388,694 pilgrims.
Importantly for British travellers, the UK was not listed among the 10 participating countries in the 2026 programme.
So seeing the phrase “Makkah Route” does not mean there is already an airport in Makkah.
Is a New Makkah Metro Also Being Planned?
Yes, but this project also needs to be described accurately.
Saudi officials confirmed in 2026 that feasibility studies and preliminary designs for the Makkah Metro had been completed and submitted to the relevant authorities for the necessary procedures before later project stages.
That is different from saying a full new metro network is already under construction or operational.
If both the airport and future metro ultimately proceed as planned, they could form part of a much more integrated transport network for Makkah.
But there are still development stages ahead.
How Could Makkah Airport Change Umrah Travel in the Future?
Once operational, the biggest potential change would be giving some pilgrims another gateway into the Makkah region.
Possible benefits could include:
Shorter onward transfers depending on the airport’s final location, travellers might spend less time travelling between their arrival airport and Makkah.
More airport capacity during busy periods passenger arrivals could potentially be distributed across more airports.
Easier travel for elderly pilgrims reducing long ground transfers could make some itineraries more comfortable for older travellers or those with mobility difficulties.
More airline choices a new airport could eventually create opportunities for airlines to add pilgrimage-focused routes.
Better integration with future transport if the airport connects with future rail, metro and road projects, reaching hotels and the Haram could become more straightforward.
However, these remain potential benefits, not guarantees.
We will need final airport plans, transport connections and airline schedules before judging the real impact.
Could Makkah Airport Reduce Hajj Congestion?
It could contribute, but it would not solve Hajj congestion on its own.
Hajj transportation involves far more than simply getting passengers into Saudi Arabia.
The system has to manage movement between airports, Makkah, Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah, pilgrim accommodation, and transport hubs.
Saudi Arabia already uses multiple international airports for pilgrim arrivals and has continued investing in roads, buses, rail and digital crowd-management systems.
A future Makkah airport could add capacity to this wider network.
But claims that the airport alone will “eliminate Hajj congestion” would be unrealistic.
What Is Saudi Arabia Doing Before Makkah Airport Opens?
UK pilgrims do not have to wait for the future airport to see transport improvements.
Saudi Arabia is already investing heavily in existing pilgrimage infrastructure.
One important project is the direct motorway connection between King Abdulaziz International Airport and Makkah.
The Pilgrim Experience Program says the project is intended to shorten average journey times and create stronger direct connectivity between Jeddah Airport and Makkah.
Jeddah Airport also already connects with the Haramain High-Speed Railway.
So improvements to pilgrim travel are happening now, independently of the proposed Makkah Airport.
Which Airport Should UK Umrah Pilgrims Use Right Now?
For a UK pilgrim travelling in 2026, the practical choice remains mainly between Jeddah and Madinah.
Choose Jeddah if you want to travel to Makkah soon after landing, your preferred UK flight operates to Jeddah, your package begins in Makkah, or you want straightforward access to the Haramain railway or road transfers.
Choose Madinah if you want to visit Madinah first, you prefer to rest before performing Umrah, your itinerary ends in Makkah, or your airline offers a convenient flight into Madinah.
There is no single airport that is automatically best for everyone.
Your departure city, ticket price, airline, itinerary and whether you visit Makkah or Madinah first all matter.
Should I Wait for Makkah Airport Before Booking Umrah?
No.
There is currently no reason to delay an Umrah trip simply because a future Makkah airport is being planned.
There is no confirmed passenger opening date.
Current transport through Jeddah and Madinah is already well established.
If your dates, budget and circumstances are suitable, plan around the infrastructure that exists today.
UK pilgrims can currently choose between direct and connecting flights, different arrival airports and several onward transport options.
If your journey includes a connection, you may also find our guide on what happens if you miss your connecting flight to Saudi Arabia useful.
What We Know About Makkah Airport So Far
Here is the simplest way to separate confirmed facts from speculation:
| Question | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Is a Makkah Airport planned? | Yes |
| Have strategic and investment directions been approved? | Yes |
| Have detailed studies been undertaken? | Yes |
| Is Makkah Airport currently open? | No |
| Can UK pilgrims currently fly directly to Makkah? | No |
| Has an official passenger opening date been announced? | Not yet |
| Have UK-Makkah airline routes been announced? | Not yet |
| Will it definitely make Umrah cheaper? | Unknown |
| Is Makkah Metro operational? | No — planning/study work is progressing |
That is the position pilgrims should use when making travel decisions today.
What Does This Mean for Future UK Umrah Packages?
Makkah Airport could eventually change the way UK travel companies design Umrah packages.
Today, many itineraries look something like:
UK → Jeddah → Makkah → Madinah → UK
or:
UK → Madinah → Makkah → Jeddah → UK
In future, another option could potentially emerge if international services begin operating directly through Makkah.
That might allow travel companies to build new combinations and reduce some ground journeys.
However, package design will depend entirely on airline routes, schedules, airport transfer options and fares once the airport becomes operational.
Until then, Hajj Umrah Travels will continue building packages around the airports and routes actually available to UK pilgrims.
Final Thoughts
The proposed Makkah Airport is one of the most interesting developments in the future of Hajj and Umrah travel.
But it is important to separate confirmed progress from predictions.
Saudi officials have confirmed detailed studies and approval of the project’s strategic, economic and investment direction. The Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites is expected to work with private-sector partners on the development model.
What has not yet been confirmed is equally important.
There is currently no operational Makkah international airport, no announced UK-Makkah passenger route and no official opening date.
For pilgrims travelling now, Jeddah and Madinah remain the practical gateways.
When official construction milestones, opening dates or airline routes are announced, those developments will matter enormously for UK pilgrims and this guide should be updated accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Makkah have an international airport in 2026?
No. As of September 2026, Makkah does not have an operational commercial international airport. A new airport project is being planned, but passenger operations have not begun.
When will the new Makkah Airport open?
No confirmed commercial opening date has been publicly announced. Strategic, economic and investment plans have progressed, but travellers should avoid relying on unofficial opening dates.
Can I currently fly from London directly to Makkah?
No. There are currently no commercial London-to-Makkah flights. UK pilgrims normally fly to airports such as Jeddah or Madinah before continuing their journey.
Will Makkah Airport replace Jeddah Airport?
There is no indication that it will replace Jeddah. Saudi officials have specifically discussed developing the airport while protecting the viability of neighbouring airports.
Will Makkah Airport make Umrah cheaper?
It is too early to know. More airport capacity and new airline competition could influence prices, but Umrah costs also depend heavily on flights, hotels, dates, demand and package type.
Is the Makkah Route Initiative the new Makkah Airport?
No. The Makkah Route Initiative is a Hajj pre clearance programme operating at selected foreign airports. It is separate from the proposed physical airport project in Makkah.
