HAJJ 2022

Currently everything is estimated due to the pandemic and inevitable political ramifications as well. We will release confirmed facts as soon as we get them confirmed as well.

However we expect these dates to be accurate to +- 2 days either way due to the reasons mentioned above.

HajjwithAE is open to all applicants from all countries, but especially the UK, US and Canada where our offices are based. More details to be released when we receive the full go-ahead on visa options from the Saudi authorities.

This should not be a problem, please indicate your exact situation when we eventually send you the booking form is you are successful in pre-registering (here) and then get offered a place.

30kg per person, along with one free 10L Zamzam bottle cleared to your international city of departure.

If you have a domestic flight to catch to get to the main city of departure, please be advised that on your return, they will not give you the same international allowance you just used when trying to check-in for your domestic flight. Please make arrangements or check with the office if it is possible to get a ticket that includes the entire journey.

Yes, the Qurbani is included in the price as is every other usual cost. We also provide a list of complimentary items as listed above.

If you are repeating either Hajj or ‘Umrah for the second time within two Islamic hijri one years, then the Saudi Embassy in the UK might force you to pay 2000 Saudi Riyals as a “tax” that was introduced in 2017 as part of their new Economic 2030 plans. We have no control over this, but we will always help advise. If you wish to proceed, and we confirm from the Embassy that you will be liable for this charge, we will request this fee from you at the time of submitting your passport in the last 1-2 months before we leave. However please note that the Hajj Ministry are constantly changing their plans and fees structure and so it is possible there is no fee to be paid at all.

For a full explanation on how the current system works and whether YOU will be required to pay the fee, please see this post here and the automatic checker tool as well.

Please note that you do NOT have to pay the 2000 SAR fee if you have done Hajj in the same 12 month period as an ‘Umrah. They are classed as different pilgrimages. The charge only occurs if you do two ‘Umrahs in the same period. Also, the “one Hajj only per five years” rule seems to have been replaced if you wish to repeat your Hajj, so please enquire at the office.

Shaykh AE will cover in detail all the things you need to do beforehand and bring with you, in the Hajj seminars and the Hajj Google Group that you will be added to as soon as you book your place. We do advise though that you prepare to bring a sleeping bag of any description which will prove very useful in Muzdalifah, as well as battery power packs for your mobile phones which are priceless! Please remember to ask the Shaykh to explain about this more in the educational programs.

We strongly advise that you do not bring children with you for the Hajj unless they are mature 13-years old plus, so that they can spiritually benefit as well as making things easy upon you. It is always best to try and arrange childcare with grandparents for all other children during your Hajj.

However, if you are unable to organise childcare, we put a a minimum age limit of 7 years old for any children. Even with this concession, we wish to emphasise that you will have to take complete responsibility at all times for your child. This might sound strange but often we have found parents are happy to let their children go to the Masjid and other locations by themselves because they trust them, and then they get lost. We cannot look after children during the Hajj and things can get intense, and they will not allow you to benefit and enjoy the experience as it should be. However, if you have absolutely no choice then we will allow you to bring a 7 year old and above, even though we do not advise it.

You will have heard that Hajj requires a huge amount of patience but we certainly don’t want to hide behind that when it comes to our professionalism. However many things are out of our control. Sometimes processing passports at immigration can be very long, and other times very short. Waiting on the coach at the Mutawwif’s office can also vary depending entirely on the mood of the administrative staff there. The coach journey from Madinah to Makkah is the furthest in distance but it might be completed in less time than the tiny few mile journey from Arafah to Muzdalifah due to the traffic jams. Please prepare yourself for potential long waits at these key moments.

Shisha is a suburb of an area called Aziziyyah in Makkah, situated a few miles away from the Haram. The majority of all the pilgrims performing Hajj will move to this suburb a few days before the actual days of Hajj (we will go there on the 4^th of Dhul Hijjah and then remain there until the end of Hajj itself). Our apartment is called “Base Camp” and it is a serviced modern building with dedicated cleaners, restaurant, Masjid/lecture hall and educational facilities, and the main Hajj educational program will be based here before the actual manasik of Hajj start.

That makes our Hajj package what is called a “shifting package” because we “shift” from our 5-star hotel in front of the Haram, to the suburb next to Mina a few miles away. You can also get “non-shifting” packages from other providers where you will not move from your hotel until the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah and then of course you have to shift anyway to the tents in Mina. These “non-shifting” packages are typically significantly more expensive. Shaykh Abu Eesa doesn’t like “non-shifting” packages and has built his program around moving to Base Camp to study, bond and prepare properly for the big days of Hajj to come, after everyone has had their fill of enjoying the Haram five times a day. You will still be allowed to take a bus or walk to the Haram every day, even when we are in Base Camp, but the Shaykh prefers to really get his Hujjaj focused on the program during those few days before moving to Mina. Please read our testimonials section here on the site and also the many reviews left on www.facebook.com/HajjwithAE to truly understand the value of this plan and how much it is appreciated by the Hujjaj.

You are free to go to the Haram at any time, and it is not difficult. We are situated in a central location and taxis and buses are always available but depending on traffic, please be aware that it might take from twenty minutes to two hours to navigate and thus it is always advised to leave early, well before the prayer times. Some people also walk to the Haram but this is only advised for those who are fit enough. It is often quicker than going by bus. Typical prices are 50 Saudi riyals (approximately 4-5 riyals = £1) for a taxi which you can share with three or four other friends, and 10 Saudi riyals for a bus. Note that your negotiation skills will be tested especially as they try to charge you triple! Of course we will always be on hand to help advise. Please note that the Shaykh likes intense study and ‘ibadah techniques to be practised during our time in Aziziyyah for the more important Hajj days coming up, and he prepares much lessons, team and bonding sessions during this time.

No, the Shaykh does not want this and we have respected his wishes.

We might be able to do this at extra cost, but we cannot guarantee it because the bookings are entirely in the hands of the hotel staff. If you do get a room like that, Alhamdulillah it’s a blessing but it certainly wasn’t planned! It is possible that you might be able to pay for an upgrade, but beware it is very expensive.

During the Hajj season in Makkah and Madinah, the third and fourth beds in a “quad” and “triple” room are sometimes extra roll-away type beds. These rooms would otherwise normally be “double” rooms i.e. a room that only sleeps two twin beds or one double/king-size bed. Remember, the usual room configuration standards for Saudi hotels especially in Madinah, and in Makkah too, are different from international standards. This might mean that rooms feel a bit less spacious. If you want to avoid any issues like this, we advise you to book a double room and that way you will be guaranteed that the hotel will not try to take advantage of you. However please note that this year we have booked two hotels in Madinah and Makkah that have excellent reputations for giving full sized beds to ALL occupants in all-sized rooms, so we hope this will be honoured inshallah.

It is essential to note however that due to the Pandemic, it is very possible that the Saudi Authorities will change the regulations and only allow hotels to offer twin occupancy. All of this will be confirmed once we get official news from the Saudi Govt.

The rooms in Aziziyyah are shared between four people with their own small bathroom and small shower cubicle. Toiletries will be replaced daily, and the room is clean, modern, functional with a TV, kettle and towels provided, although we do advise you bring a towel for your trip regardless especially for the stay in the Mina tents. Aziziyyah rooms are certainly not the 5-star rooms you will enjoy in the first half of the trip, but we guarantee that you will not regret your stay in what we call “Hajj Base Camp”, which as our Shaykh insists helps prepare for the tests to come – please read the reviews and testimonials carefully to understand this. We have our own restaurant which will serve breakfast and dinner.

Again though, please note that all the above is dependent on no changes to rules and regulations from the Pandemic, as legislated by the Saudi Govt.

Normally this is not possible. Everyone will be split by gender in Base Camp in to rooms of four and five (the larger rooms take 5 poeple). Then in Mina, everyone will share one large tent for each gender. However this might actually be obligated by the Saudi Authorities due to the Pandemic, and so we will inform you individually of this option, once we get guidance from the Saudi Govt.

The Shaykh really dislikes that people do this but he recognises that there are extenuating circumstances for some people. It will significantly affect your experience the later you join, even though it is possible for you to come as late as the 15th of July and you will still receive the essential facts and guidance for Hajj.

If you still wish to proceed by coming later, please contact the office with your full intentions. Sometimes you will still be charged the full price if you come a certain date, and other times you might be charged less depending on what you miss exactly. For example, a person who didn’t come Madinah or Makkah at all but joined just for the Hajj program itself, would not have to pay for the first half of the trip.

Unfortunately the nature of this package is very intense on the time of the leader and guide in order to give the best possible experience to the majority pilgrims. This means we sadly cannot take anyone who is disabled or is too weak or old to completely look after themselves. However if they are being accompanied by someone who will be able to look after that person’s each and every need without recourse to extra resources, then please email us for further discussion. Everyone is responsible for their own movements and actions and we strongly advise that those with extreme difficulties or restrictions try a different group more suited to your needs.

The Hajj involves a significant amount of walking. Even though we are in the newest and most closest of 5-star hotels right on the doors of each Haram, it is still not easy in very busy crowds which requires a certain level of fitness. And again, in Tawaf and Sa‘i, there is a significant amount of walking. We encourage everyone to start practising now, and to follow Shaykh AE’s preparation instructions very carefully as he will be advising the pilgrims on all of this many months in advance before we leave and it is essential that you follow that guidance.

We will be in upgraded Mina camps in the European section along with 99% of all the other UK Hajj groups, which is a good 30 minute walk to the Jamarat and thus the need to practice walking in advance. For those who cannot walk this distance and back, you shouldn’t worry too much and certain actions can be deputised for and you can stay in the camp. Shaykh AE will explain the best method for this if one becomes ill or tired for such distances.

We are proud to have not just standard air-conditioned tents in both locations, but full-board meals and drinks, comfortable sofa-beds, duvets, electric points and a great educational program which will also include a mini-Islamic conference with some of the West’s most popular and loved scholars as arranged by Shaykh Abu Eesa.

Please register here or contact us here https://hajjwithae.com/contactus/ and quote “HajjwithAE”

We are pleased to announce that all the tour packages offered by Hajj With AE are now powered by Dome Tours.

Dome Tours is a UK tour operator specialising in Hajj, Umrah & Tours having earned an outstanding reputation since 2002

Dome Tours’ crowning achievement was being voted the “Best UK Hajj Tour Operator” by the public in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Organised and hosted by CBHUK, the award is testament to the leadership, hard work and expertise of DT to serve the Guests of Allah and is a mark of distinction in the Hajj & Umrah market.

More recently, DT also scooped the Hajj & Umrah Business of the Year Award at the Islam Channel Business Awards 2019.

In recognition of this drive to raise standards, DT was selected to contribute to the Parliamentary Review 2019/2020 as a Best Practice Representative for the Hajj & Umrah industry.

Hajj with AE and Dome Tours will seek to enhance pilgrims’ Hajj & Umrah experience by combining a specially developed Tarbiyyah Program with the outstanding resources and expertise in travel and tours management we are proud to have developed.

This collaboration is another milestone in our efforts to serve the Guests of Allah the Most Exalted with the highest level of care, meticulous planning and a deep sense of devotion. We ask Allah for sincerity, steadfastness and success in this life and the next. Ameen.

Contact Details:

Dome Tours International Ltd
363-365 Harrow Rd, London, W9 3NA
+44 (0) 208 962 6645 (direct line)

Email: hajjwithAE@dometours.com

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