At the time I was planning my first trip to perform Umrah, I believed that travelling from Jeddah Airport to our hotel in Makkah would be straightforward. Since I was going with my family of four, our plan was simple enough: to land at Jeddah Airport, hire a local taxi driver, negotiate the fare and then go directly to our hotel.
I never expected that something like this would happen to me.
I was there on 12 December 2025, and the experience turned out to be entirely different from what I had anticipated. Although I was in the state of Ihram and eager to carry out Umrah, I found myself in a situation which I had never come across before.
My First Experience: Naqaba Officials Stopped Me at Jeddah Airport
On my arrival at Jeddah Airport I intended to hire a taxi available locally and then go to Makkah. But before I was able to leave the airport, the officials from the Naqaba government stopped me and requested a document known as Tafweej.
I was confused since I had never heard of Tafweej earlier, and as my Umrah visa agent had not mentioned it, I had already thought that I could arrange a taxi for myself after landing.
Naqaba gov officials told me that I could not just go outside and arrange for a taxi from a local operator for my transfer from the airport.
I was travelling with my family, which consisted of four people, and I was under a great deal of stress. We had just arrived; I was in a state of Ihram, and my only wish was to get to Makkah in order to carry out Umrah.
The Naqaba officials told us that because we did not have the Tafweej document, we would have to travel on their shared buses. We were taken to shared transportation with a large group of passengers instead of travelling in the private taxi I had planned.
I was also informed that my visa agent might be fined since the document required had not been prepared.
Note: A screenshot is included here as an example of the fine in my case. Travel agents should check the relevant regulations and penalties with the appropriate Saudi authorities. Basically, it’s an invoice for a shared bus service that pilgrims are forced to use when the Tafweej document is not available. The bus service is very expensive, and the invoice is sent directly to the agent’s portal for payment. This is why it’s important to prepare the Tafweej document in advance. Otherwise, the agent has to pay a much higher amount, which is then charged to the customer.
It was a terribly bad experience; I had sorted out my visa and flights, but no one explained to me this important aspect of the airport transfer procedure.
When you are visiting Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa, don’t think that you can arrive at Jeddah Airport and then ask any local taxi driver to take you to Makkah.
Before you travel, check the current requirements with your visa agent and transportation provider.
My Second Umrah Trip: How Saudia Taxi Helped Me
On my next visit to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, I had no desire to encounter the same issue.
I reached out to a number of transportation companies, but none of them gave me a full explanation of the airport transfer procedure; later on, I got in touch with Saudia Taxi, and their support agent Usaid showed me how the process works.
He outlined the meaning of what Nusuk Masar and Tafweej meant, explained why the information about the driver and the vehicle was important, and stated what I had to do to arrange it with the agency which had issued my Umrah visa.
The information that I got from Saudia Taxi was really useful, and that’s why I’m providing it here so that other pilgrims may get ready before they travel.
What Are Nusuk Masar and Tafweej?
NUSUK Masar is the official digital gateway managed by the Saudi government. It connects pilgrims with licensed service providers, including hotels and transport companies. It prevents “fake agents” and unregistered “freelance” taxis from overcharging or scamming pilgrims.
Tafweej refers to the official “permit”. It is a legal document that links a specific pilgrim (or group) to a specific registered vehicle and driver.
I was informed that my visa agent would need the details of both the assigned driver and the vehicle in order to prepare the document before my arrival.
Even if you have a taxi booking, that alone may not be sufficient for your airport pickup unless the required tafweej document is present.
How I Arranged My Jeddah Airport to Makkah Taxi the Second Time
Saudia Taxi outlined the procedure step by step.
Step 1: Reserve your taxi in advance.
I got in touch with Saudia Taxi and told them about my arrival plans. They then agreed to arrange a Nusuk Masar-registered driver and a vehicle appropriate for my Umrah airport transfer.
Step 2: Obtain the driver and vehicle information for the Nusuk Masar.
The company explained that I would receive the necessary information before arrival, including:
– Driver’s name
– ID or Iqama number
– Vehicle registration number
– Driver’s contact number
– Company name
Step 3: Give this information to your Umrah visa agent.
I sent the information to the agency which had applied for my Umrah visa so that they could prepare the Tafweej document.
Before you travel, make sure that the Tafweej document is ready.
I ensured that the document had been prepared and passed it on to Saudia Taxi before I arrived, as had been instructed.
On my arrival, the Naqaba authorities checked my arrangements once more; this time, however, I had the Tafweej document with me.
I showed them the document and from that moment on everything went smoothly; I was welcomed throughout the process and guided to the taxi which I had booked through Saudia Taxi.
I was really relieved. When I went on my first visit, I was confused and under a lot of stress, but on the second occasion I was prepared, my driver was there waiting for me, and I was able to proceed towards Makkah with my family without meeting the same sort of problems.
The specific requirements and procedure may vary, so you should always check the most up-to-date regulations with your visa agent and transportation provider.
My Recommendation for Umrah Pilgrims
On the basis of having gone through both situations, I can give the following simple advice: if you are visiting on an Umrah visa, don’t leave your Jeddah Airport to Makkah taxi until the last possible moment.
Make sure that your transportation provider can organise an eligible driver and vehicle, find out regarding Nusuk Masar registration, and ensure that your visa agent prepares the Tafweej document required before your arrival.
I suggest getting in touch with Saudia Taxi since, from my experience, their customer support team clearly explained the procedure and helped me to understand what was required; I particularly valued the assistance given by Usaid, since when I had got in contact with the other companies I hadn’t received a similar explanation.
You can get in touch with them to find out the present requirements, the different vehicle options, the availability and the fare for a private transfer from Jeddah Airport to your hotel in Makkah.
Saudia Taxi Contact Details
- Website: www.saudiataxi.com
- WhatsApp: +1 (914) 904-7760
- Email: info@saudiataxi.com
When you are asking for a quote, please provide them with the date of your arrival, all the details about your flight, the number of passengers, and the location of the hotel.
Final Thoughts
I am telling you about my experience since I truly don’t want some other pilgrim to go through what I went through on my first visit to perform Umrah.
Picture yourself and your family getting to Ihram as you intend to carry out Umrah, only to find that you’re missing a document about which you have never heard. I don’t want any other person to have to endure that kind of stress.
On the second occasion, I had previously prepared, with the help of the guidance given by Saudia Taxi, and my experience was much smoother.
I hope that this article will help both pilgrims and travel agents to realise how important it is to have the airport transfer and the necessary paperwork arranged before leaving.
May Allah simplify the journey of every pilgrim, accept their Umrah, and grant reward to all those who assist the guests of Allah; and for me, it would be sufficient if merely one family was able to avoid this problem by means of my sharing my experience.