The United States includes some of the most widely dispersed Muslim communities and is estimated to have more than 3.5 million Muslims. American Muslims live in enclaves across New Jersey, Texas, California, and Detroit, Michigan. American Muslims are increasingly eager to travel internationally to perform Umrah.
What is one of the most important, but overlooked, questions for American Muslims hoping to perform Umrah? Which city has the most affordable, convenient, and well-connected options to perform Umrah? The answer depends on the available flights, your budget, and your location. This guide aims to show the best potential departure cities to perform Umrah, and how agencies like Cheap Umrah Deals aim to simplify the process for you, no matter your departure city.
1. New York (JFK / EWR) – The East Coast Gateway
As the East Coast Gateway, New York has one of the most concentrated Muslim populations in America and has one of the world’s most well-connected travel cities to Saudi Arabia.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is a busy airport hub for Saudi Airlines (Saudia) as well as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines, all with access to routes connecting Jeddah (the gateway to Makkah) and Madinah. New York pilgrims can find both direct and connecting flights that will take them to Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah in the range of 12 to 18 hours.
For the big Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Yemeni and Egyptian communities in New Jersey and Brooklyn and Queens, JFK is a real travel leader. Cheap Umrah Deals provides a Umrah packages from New York JFK and Newark departures that includes the required visa, transportation, and accommodations in Jeddah and Madinah for $1,225.
2. Chicago (ORD) – The Midwest Hub
An important South Asian, Palestinian, and African USA Muslim population makes Chicago and its suburbs home. It helps to establish Chicago as a significant center of the Muslim community in the Midwest. As one of the busiest airports in the world, O’Hare International Airport (ORD) provides easy access to the Gulf region.
From Chicago, Jeddah is easily accessible with multiple connecting options to Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, and London, and traveling for Umrah from any of these locations will yield very competitive pricing and value with a variety of options available to travelers. With the large number of community organizations and Islamic schools in Chicago, the localized demand for Umrah travel is apparent and includes an increasing number of families who wish to complete the pilgrimage together.
We offer Umrah packages from Chicago, meaning that Midwestern pilgrims can access the same packages at the same great, competitive prices as other pilgrims on the coasts. Cheap Umrah Deals seasonal packages, like those with October and December departures — when Umrah travel is cheaper — are Chicago-area families’ favorite packages.
3. Houston (IAH) – The Southern Stronghold
Houston is home to one of the fastest-growing Muslim communities in the USA and has a large South Asian and Pakistani American population. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) has great Middle East access and leads directly, or with one stop, to Jeddah, with Qatar Airways and Emirates.
The rest of Texas is great for Umrah travel, too. Cheap Umrah Deals is based in Austin, Texas, where they operate as All Sky Travel LLC. Thus, they are one of the very few U.S.-based Umrah travel companies that actually have extensive Texas-based operations. We have knowledge and understanding of the Texas Muslim community (including the strong Ramadan pilgrimage from Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio) means they have a great advantage and are very practical when it comes to servicing Southern pilgrims.
The added convenience of a short drive to IAH combined with competitive flight prices to Saudi Arabia means that Southern pilgrims benefit greatly from traveling from Houston. Houston Umrah packages, starting at $1,225/pp for 7-nights (3-star hotels, flights, visas, transport included), make Houston a great choice for Southern pilgrims.
4. Los Angeles (LAX) – The West Coast Departure
As the spiritual and cultural center of West Coast Muslim life, Los Angeles contains large Iranian, Arab, South Asian, and African American Muslim communities. Los Angeles County and the rest of the Inland Empire also contain significant concentrations of these communities. For Asian and Middle Eastern Muslims, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is one of the major gateways.
From Los Angeles, pilgrims are more likely to connect through Dubai (Emirates), Doha (Qatar Airways), or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) to fly to Jeddah or Madinah. While LAX has less frequent direct flights to Saudi Arabia compared to East Coast airports, airline competition provides fair pricing.
We have packages specifically for California pilgrims with West Coast departing Umrah deals. Their 4-Star Los Angeles Packages, including hotels like Emaar Grand Makkah and Emaar Elite Madinah, begin at $1,295 per person for 10 nights, which is a great deal considering the distance to the Haram.
5. Dallas / Fort Worth (DFW) – The Texan Pilgrimage Hub
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is one of the largest airports in the United States, and as a large USA Airlines hub, has a significant number of codeshare flights with Middle Eastern airlines. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has a large and rapidly growing Muslim population due to the economic growth and affordable living in Texas.
Dallas has a unique position in Cheap Umrah Deals’ service network as a neighboring city to its Austin headquarters. DFW departures have all three classes of hotels (3-star, 4-star, or 5-star) available, and with the agency’s price beat guarantee, Dallas pilgrims will never pay more than necessary.
For Dallas pilgrims who would rather book their own flights, or who have airline miles, the agency offers a particularly land-only option of a 7-night, 3-star land package, starting at $525, which includes the Umrah visa, hotels, and all ground transportation in KSA. This option is best for travelers who have a lot of experience traveling and for travelers who have a lot of points for international travel based in the USA.
6. Detroit (DTW) – The Arab-American Heartland
No discussion of the Muslim community in the USA is really complete without talking about Dearborn in Michigan, which has the biggest Arab American community in the USA. The greater Detroit area, which includes Dearborn and Hamtramck, has a huge Umrah and Hajj community, as pilgrimage is an important and integrated part of their religious community.
Since Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is a regional hub with flights to KSA, We serve Detroit pilgrims directly with packages designed for the Arab American community. These packages, which include longer stays and 21-night packages, are traveled by extended families, and thus are designed for families.
Their 21-night, 3-star package (12 nights in Makkah, 9 nights in Madinah) starts from $1,430 per person. Compared to the other Umrah Packages available to Detroit-area pilgrims, this is the best value for an extended stay package.
7. Washington D.C. (IAD / DCA) – The Capital’s Muslim Community
The Washington D.C. estimated area, including Northern Virginia and Maryland, has a large educated Muslim community. There is a lot of variety among the community, including South Asians, Africans, and Arab Americans. Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) have great options, especially Gulf carriers.
For pilgrims from Washington D.C. who are interested in 5-star packages departing from IAD, featuring world-class hotels such as Le Méridien Towers Makkah, Hilton Jabal Omar, and Crowne Plaza Madinah, are available for as little as $1,355 per person for a 7-night package. These premium packages consist of a very good inclusive breakfast, along with visa, transport, and return flights, and are a great consideration for families who want an enriching, financially and logistically easy Umrah journey.
What Makes Cheap Umrah Deals the Right Partner – From Any US City
No matter which city you are departing from, the quality of your Umrah experience highly depends on the agency that completes the arrangements. Cheap Umrah Deals (cheapumrahdeals.com) operates as All Sky Travel LLC, based in Austin, Texas, and has dedicated the last 10+ years to bringing customized, affordable, and transparent Umrah travel to the American Muslim community.
Here is what sets them apart.
Departures from every major US airport. There are scheduled flights from New York (JFK/EWR), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Washington, DC (IAD/DCA), California, and from every other US city upon request.
Airline partnerships with the world’s best carriers. Saudi Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and British Airways are all included in the packages, providing the best and most convenient way for the pilgrims to reach Jeddah and Madinah.
Three visa types handled. They process the Umrah Visa, Tourist Visa, and the Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW). The processing time is fast (3 to 7 days), and they provide all the documents you need.
Packages to suit every budget. There is a range of packages for every USA Muslim pilgrim, from a 3-star package at $1,225/pp for 3 weeks to a 5-star package for $2,345/pp for 21 nights. Land packages without flights are available for a cheaper price ($525/pp).
No hidden charges. The price advertised is the price guaranteed, with no surprises at the airport. If an equivalent package is found at a lower price, Cheap Umrah Deals will match it.
Free wheelchairs and baby cots. There is no charge for additional service, and young families and elderly pilgrims are accommodated.
Support Available 24/7. The Cheap Umrah Deals team is always one call, text, or email away at (325) 339 1005, (888) 505 2835, and info@cheapumrahdeals.com, at all times during the trip.
Choosing the Best Season to Depart
The city from which you depart matters. The timing of your departure also matters. We create seasonal packages for USA Muslims based on the American Muslim calendar:
Ramadan High demand for Umrah bookings occurs during Ramadan as it is the most spiritually fulfilling time to undertake the pilgrimage.
Winter months (December–February) The best option for families, individual pilgrims, and senior Umrah pilgrims is for travel to be undertaken in the cooler Saudi Arabian winter months of December to February. Packages for a seven-day Umrah trip in December commence at $1,220.
October pilgrims can expect cooler weather and a less crowded pilgrim population, thus providing a better Umrah experience.
Summer (July–August) are the longest school holiday months. For the best travel options, pilgrims are advised to book in advance.
Final Thoughts
The USA Muslim community is diverse in most ways imaginable. The sheer size and diversity of the community means that wherever you are, from the Houston Bayou to the Streets of New York, the journey to the Holiest Mosques in the world begins with your desire to make the pilgrimage.
Traveling to Saudi Arabia to make Umrah during this holy pilgrimage is an act of devotion. Finding the best Umrah travel partner is the best thing you can do for this pilgrimage. The travel partner you choose should be the best, with over a decade of experience, transparent pricing, and departures across the country.
