When Is Hajj 2027? Expected Dates and a Timeline for UK Pilgrims

“When is Hajj 2027?” is usually the first thing families ask us, often before they have even talked about budgets. It makes sense. You cannot book leave, plan childcare or line up a passport renewal without a date.

So here are the expected dates for each day of Hajj, why they can move by a day, and a month-by-month plan for UK pilgrims running from now until you land back home.

Hajj 2027 dates at a glance

Hajj 2027 falls in mid-May. Dhul Hijjah 1448 is expected to begin on Friday 7 May 2027, which puts the main days of Hajj between Friday 14 May and Wednesday 19 May. The table below shows each day, its Islamic date and what pilgrims do.

What month is Hajj 2027?

In the Islamic calendar, Hajj always takes place in Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month. For 2027 that means Dhul Hijjah 1448 AH, which lines up with May 2027 in the Gregorian calendar.

Why Hajj comes earlier each year

The Islamic year follows the moon and is about 11 days shorter than the solar year. So Hajj moves roughly 11 days earlier every year. Hajj 2026 took place in late May, Hajj 2027 lands in mid-May, and Hajj 2028 is expected around the start of May.

Why the dates can shift by a day

The dates above follow the expected start of Dhul Hijjah 1448. Saudi Arabia confirms the month only after the new crescent moon is sighted, at the end of Dhul Qa’dah. If the moon is not seen that evening, every day of Hajj moves one day later.

How Saudi Arabia announces the dates

The Saudi authorities call for the moon to be sighted on the evening of 29 Dhul Qa’dah, expected around early May 2027. The official start of Dhul Hijjah, and with it the Day of Arafah, is announced that night. Until then, every date you read online, including ours, is an expected date.

Why websites give different dates

You may see the Day of Arafah listed as 15, 16 or even 17 May 2027. Calendar sites use different calculation methods, and some simply copy each other. Most published estimates point to 15 May, but trust the Saudi announcement over any website.

When the UK celebrates Eid al-Adha 2027

Most UK mosques follow the Saudi announcement for Eid al-Adha, which would put Eid on Sunday 16 May 2027. Some follow local moon sighting and may celebrate a day later. Check with your local mosque closer to the time.

When Umrah closes before Hajj 2027

Umrah pauses for several weeks before Hajj while Makkah prepares for the season. For 1448, the last date to issue Umrah visas is 9 March 2027, the last date to enter Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa is 23 March 2027, and Umrah pilgrims must leave by 7 April 2027.

What this means for Easter Umrah

Easter Sunday 2027 falls on 28 March, after the last Umrah entry date. A standard Umrah visa will not cover most Easter holiday trips this year. If you had your heart set on the Easter break, ask us which Easter Umrah packages dates still work before you book anything.

Entering Makkah close to Hajj

In the weeks before Hajj, Saudi authorities also restrict entry to Makkah to people with Hajj permits and those who live or work there. A tourist visa or the new Saudi ETA does not get you in. Hajj 2027 is only possible on a Hajj visa issued through Nusuk Hajj.

Your UK timeline for Hajj 2027

Working back from mid-May, UK pilgrims need to register on Nusuk this winter, book and pay for a package in early 2027, get vaccinated in spring and fly in early May. The months below are based on the expected dates and last season’s process, so treat them as a guide.

November to December 2026: register

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has not yet announced when 1448 registration opens for UK residents, and last season it opened on 7 October. Get your documents ready now. Our Nusuk Hajj 2027 registration guide walks through every step.

January to March 2027: book and pay

Package booking and payment are expected in the first months of 2027, inside the Nusuk platform. This is when you compare Mina categories, hotels and what is included. Have a look at our Hajj 2027 packages from the UK to see the options and what each one covers.

March to April 2027: health, leave and paperwork

Book your ACWY meningitis vaccine and get the certificate, since Saudi Arabia requires it for Hajj. Confirm annual leave with your employer, sort travel insurance and check that every passport in your group runs well beyond the end of 2027.

Early to mid-May 2027: travel

Last season, Hajj flights into Saudi Arabia ran from mid-April and stopped a few days before Hajj began. Most UK groups fly out one to two weeks before 8 Dhul Hijjah, so expect to leave in late April or the first days of May 2027.

Late May to June 2027: return

Pilgrims can leave Mina from 12 Dhul Hijjah. Many UK groups then spend a few days in Madinah before flying home, so most return between late May and early June 2027.

Planning around work, school and the heat

Hajj 2027 sits in the middle of the UK school term and close to two bank holidays, and Makkah in May is very hot. A little planning now makes all three much easier to manage.

Time off work

Most Hajj packages from the UK last between two and three weeks, door to door. The early May bank holiday is Monday 3 May and the spring bank holiday is Monday 31 May 2027, so your leave may straddle one of them. Ask your employer early, especially if colleagues will also want Eid off.

School and family

The main days of Hajj fall during term time, before May half-term in most of England. If you are leaving children at home, sort childcare for the full trip, not just the five days of Hajj.

The heat in Makkah

Makkah’s average daily high in May is around 42°C. Rest between rituals, drink water constantly, use an umbrella and keep walking during the hottest hours to a minimum. In our 19 years of taking UK pilgrims, the heat is what catches first-timers out more than anything else.

Frequently asked questions

Plan your Hajj 2027 now

Hajj 2027 is expected from 14 to 19 May, with the Day of Arafah on Saturday 15 May. That leaves around six months to register, book, get vaccinated and arrange leave, and the earlier steps fill up first.

If you would like help building your own timeline, talk to our Hajj team. Travel to Kabah is UK-based and on WhatsApp 24/7 at +44 20 3504 5185. Places are limited by the UK quota, so it pays to be ready before booking opens.