Umrah with Elderly Parents: Wheelchair Accessible Transport Guide (2025)

Umrah with Elderly Parents: Wheelchair Accessible Transport Guide (2025)

Published: December 16, 2025

Bringing your elderly parents for Umrah is one of the greatest honors a child can have. Just as they carried you when you were small, now you support them in the House of Allah.

But the physical reality of Umrah can be harsh. The heat, the crowds, and the walking distance can be overwhelming for seniors.

This guide is designed to help you plan a smooth, pain-free Umrah for your elderly parents, ensuring they focus on worship, not exhaustion.

1. Choosing the Right Wheelchair Strategy

Bringing Your Own vs. Renting

• Best Advice: Bring your own lightweight, foldable wheelchair. You can take it all the way to the aircraft door.
• Renting: You can rent free wheelchairs at the Haram (subject to availability) or electric scooters (for a fee).
• Electric Scooters: These are available on the Mezzanine floor of the Mataf. They are excellent but fast – make sure your parent is comfortable driving one.

2. Airport Arrival: The Critical Moment

The walk from the plane to immigration at Jeddah Airport can be long.

• Request Wheelchair Assistance: When booking your flight, select the "Wheelchair Request" (WCHR) option. An airline staff member will meet you at the gate.
• The Taxi Challenge: Most standard taxis have gas tanks in the trunk (CNG), leaving ZERO space for a folded wheelchair.
• The Solution: You MUST book a vehicle with a large trunk. A GMC Yukon or Hyundai Staria is essential. Do not try to squeeze into a sedan.

3. Hotel Selection: Proximity is Key

Do not save money on the hotel distance.

• Makkah: Stay in a hotel in the Clock Tower (Abraj Al Bait) or Jabal Omar. These have flat, air-conditioned access to the Haram. Avoid hotels in Aziziyah unless they offer 24/7 door-to-door shuttle.
• Madinah: Stay in the North or front row hotels. The women's gate is quite far from the back rows.

4. The Transport Factor: Why Private is Mandatory

Imagine your father struggling to climb the high step of a bus, or rushing to catch a shuttle. It creates anxiety.

Why Families Choose UmrahTransit for Seniors:

1. Patience: Our drivers are trained to wait. Take your time getting in and out.
2. Assistance: The driver will load and unload the heavy wheelchair for you every time.
3. Door-to-Door: We drop you at the closest possible point to your hotel lobby.
4. Comfort Stops: On the Makkah-Madinah highway, we stop at premium rest areas with clean, accessible western-style toilets.

5. Tips for the Tawar & Sa'i

• Perform Umrah at Night: After Isha or before Fajr is cooler and less crowded.
• Use the Upper Floors: The ground floor Mataf is crowded. The upper floors are longer but wheelchair friendly.
• Hydration: Keep them hydrated with Zamzam. Dehydration causes fatigue quickly in seniors.

Honor them with a comfortable journey. Book a spacious GMC that fits their wheelchair and luggage easily.

👉 Book Wheelchair-Friendly Transport