Dubai: It is now impossible to get an Umrah visa as Muslims start leaving for the holy places to offer prayers during Ramadan, the month of fasting and abstinence.

Saudi Arabia will not issue Umrah visas after Monday and the allotted number of people allowed to perform the smaller pilgrimage from the UAE has also been filled, agents said.

About 15,000 Muslims from the UAE are allowed to perform Umrah this year.

The quota system has been set up for the Arab countries to avoid crowding at the holy places.

There will be weekly bus services starting from the first of Ramadan, which is likely to begin on Wednesday, depending on the sighting of the crescent.

Flights to Makkah are also fully booked. The airfares begin from Dh2,700 for regular flights and Dh1,600 for budget airlines, said Abdul Rasheed, marketing manager of Al Hamar Haj Services, based in Bur Dubai.

Besides Emirates, the budget carriers that fly to Makkah are Air Arabia, Sama and Nas Air.

There are only 15 approved agents across the various emirates, but there are many unauthorised travel companies which promise to arrange everything for the pilgrims. Saudi Arabia only issues Umrah visas through the agents.

Lailat Al Qadr

Muslims are keen to perform Umrah, or the smaller pilgrimage, during the holy month of Ramadan, specially during the last 10 days of the month, when Lailat Al Qadr (the Night of Power) is commemorated.

The first verses of the Quran was revealed during one of the last 10 days.

Muslims also travel to Madinah to pray at the Prophet's Mosque.

Abdul Rasheed said you cannot book for a single night but have to book for all the last 10 days of the month.

A room for a couple during the last 10 days in Makkah Hilton is around Dh60,000 and is fully booked. Zamzam Hotel is still open and the package is around Dh40,000.

Saudi Arabian Public Transport (Saptco) also runs daily bus service to Makkah from Dubai and Sharjah.

Muslims can also travel by their own car but the visas have to be arranged by the agents. RTA's permission has to be taken first.

The visa costs about Dh300. The bus trip or a car drive takes about 28 hours.

The number of families performing the pilgrimage is smaller this year, said one agent, because of the summer heat and the annual vacations.