Immigration & biometrics
Passport control takes fingerprints and a photo. Keep your passport and Umrah visa accessible; the group leader holds the manifest, not your documents.
Jeddah · Gateway city
Jeddah
Gateway city on the Red Sea — arrival point for many Ethiopia departures.
The doorway to the Haramain
Where the journey lands
Most Ethiopian departures touch Saudi soil for the first time in Jeddah. King Abdulaziz International Airport sits roughly 80 km from Masjid al-Haram, which is why it has served pilgrims arriving by sea and by air for centuries — the city's name in the old records is simply the port of Makkah.
For a Zad group, Jeddah is a transit chapter rather than a stay: immigration, baggage, the Zad coordinator meeting point, and then the road or the Haramain high-speed train onward. Knowing what the airport looks like before you land removes most of the anxiety of a first Umrah.
On arrival
What the first two hours look like
Nothing here needs memorising — your group leader walks you through each step. It is published so families at home know the shape of the day.
Meeting the coordinator
Zad's Saudi coordinator meets the group after baggage reclaim. If you are separated, stay in the arrivals hall and call the number on your emergency card.
Onward to Makkah or Madinah
Depending on the itinerary, the group travels by coach or boards the Haramain high-speed train. Both are arranged before you land.
Ihram considerations
Pilgrims flying directly to Makkah usually enter Ihram before landing, at the Miqat crossed in the air. Your briefing confirms the timing for your route.
Around the city
Places groups pass through
Travel with Zad
Arrive with someone waiting for you
Every Zad departure is met on the ground in Saudi Arabia. Request a quotation to see which route your group takes.