🕋 DIY Umrah With Etihad Airways: A Smooth Journey From Kuala Lumpur to Madinah & Jeddah

There is something special about a DIY Umrah.
No rushing with big groups.
No waiting for buses to fill.
Just you, your intentions, and the quiet satisfaction of planning your own journey for the sake of Allah.

And in the middle of that journey, one airline keeps appearing in every discussion: Etihad Airways . 

Not just because of their comfort, timings, or baggage allowance — but because their routes make it incredibly easy to start your Umrah in Madinah, end in Makkah, and return home without unnecessary detours.

Today’s post is a full, updated guide based on real flight examples, calculations, and the growing popularity of Etihad for DIY Umrah travellers.

🌙 Why Etihad Works So Well for DIY Umrah Travellers

Here’s the simple truth:

➡️ The timing is good
➡️ The transits are manageable
➡️ The baggage allowance fits Umrah needs
➡️ Meals are included
➡️ Most importantly: you can fly into either Jeddah or Madinah

These alone make Etihad a favourite.

But here's the best part:

Etihad now offers direct connectivity into Madinah — making Umrah even easier for those who want to start calmly at Masjid Nabawi.

If you’d like to check prices later, here’s the link: Etihad Fare Search   

✨ A Soft Reminder Before We Begin

This guide is written from the heart — based on real experiences, real timings, and the real things jemaah always ask.

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
This helps me maintain the blog and continue sharing Umrah tips freely.

🌙 Storytelling Intro: The Journey That Taught Me

My earliest DIY Umrah trip was the kind that teaches you more than any textbook ever will.

My friend — a patient ustaz — guided me step by step.
But somewhere in Madinah, on a peaceful evening, I got overconfident and wandered off alone, certain I knew my way back.

I didn’t.

Every street looked familiar.
Every corner felt “just like the one before.”
And it took hours before I finally found my hotel again.

From that day, I never forgot two things:

1. Stay humble while travelling.
2. Never assume you know the direction — especially in the holy lands.

This blog, this guide, every tip I share — they are all lessons learned the hard way so you don’t have to repeat them.

✈️ Two Simple Etihad Routes for DIY Umrah

Below are the two practical ways Malaysians use Etihad to perform Umrah:

OPTION 1: Fly KUL → JED | Return JED → KUL

(cheaper, but requires bus to Madinah)

OPTION 2: Fly KUL → MED | Return JED → KUL

(smoother, more comfortable start to Umrah)

Let’s break them down.

🛫 OPTION 1 — KL → Jeddah → KL (With Short Outbound Layover)

✈️ Outbound Flight

12 January

• 21:40 — Depart Kuala Lumpur (KUL T1)

13 January

• 00:50 — Arrive Abu Dhabi
• Transit: 1 hr 15 mins
• 02:05 — Depart Abu Dhabi
• 04:15 — Land in Jeddah (Terminal 1)

🌅 Why this arrival time is perfect

• You enter before Fajr
• Pray Subuh at the airport
• Have breakfast
• Then catch the 7:45am or 10:45am NWBus to Madinah

Arrival in Madinah?
Around Asar. Just in time to breathe, reset, pray, and start your Madinah journey.

🔁 Return Flight (Long Layover = Explore Abu Dhabi!)

21 January

• 05:55 — Depart Jeddah
• 09:20 — Arrive Abu Dhabi
• Layover: 11 hrs 40 mins (perfect timing!)
• 21:00 — Depart Abu Dhabi
• 08:05 (22 Jan) — Arrive Kuala Lumpur

🌞 Why this layover is gold

You arrive in Abu Dhabi in the morning — fresh sunlight, smooth immigration, and plenty of time to:

• 🌙 Visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – marble domes & calm courtyards.
• 🏛️ Visit Qasr Al Watan – the presidential palace of lights.
• 🎨 Drop by Louvre Abu Dhabi – masterpieces under a floating dome.
• 🌅 See Corniche Walk – sunset skyline stroll.
• 🍽️ Lunch at Al Fanar Restaurant & Café for authentic Emirati flavors.

Return to the airport for your 21:00 PM connection to Jeddah.

💵 OPTION 1 Cost

MYR 2,846 (return)
🚚 25kg baggage
🎒 7kg cabin
🍽️ Meals included 

🌴 OPTION 2 — KL → Madinah → Jeddah → KL

(Best for comfort, elderly parents, and first-timers)

Etihad now allows Malaysians to fly directly into Madinah.

This is a huge blessing.

✈️ Outbound Flight (KL → Abu Dhabi → Madinah)

12 January

• 21:40 — Depart Kuala Lumpur

13 January

• 00:50 — Arrive Abu Dhabi
• Transit: 8 hrs 5 mins (midnight layover, not suitable to explore city)
• 08:55 — Depart Abu Dhabi
• 10:50 — Land in Madinah

Cost: MYR 1,766 ( One-way Kuala Lumpur → Abu Dhabi → Madinah )
🚚 25kg baggage
🎒 7kg cabin
🍽️ Meals included 

🌸 Why this arrival is beautiful

You reach Madinah in the morning sunlight, check in comfortably, and walk peacefully to Masjid Nabawi.

No rushing.
No confusion.
No long bus ride after a night flight.

🔁 Return Flight (Same as Option 1)

Cost: MYR 1,469 ( One-way Jeddah → Abu Dhabi → Kuala Lumpur )
🚚 25kg baggage
🎒 7kg cabin
🍽️ Meals included 

Note:
Since your return flight leaves early at 5:55 AM on 21 January, you’ll probably check out from your Makkah hotel the day before, on 20 January. Think of it as a bonus window to wander around Jeddah before making your way to the airport. 

💸 Total Estimated Fare (Option 1 vs Option 2)

OPTION 1 — Standard Round Trip (KUL → JED → KUL)

OPTION 2 — Multi-City (KUL → MED, JED → KUL)

📌 SUMMARY

• Option 1 is cheaper by MYR 389
• But you must add Madinah bus fare: ~MYR 115
• ✔️ Real savings = MYR 274
• Option 2 costs more, but gives:
  ✔️ Direct arrival in Madinah
  ✔️ Smoother spiritual start
  ✔️ No long 6-hour bus ride
  ✔️ Better for elderly parents

🌟 Tips to Save More with Etihad Airways

💡 1. Check Etihad’s “Offers” Page

Etihad often releases:

• seasonal discounts
• flash fares
• promo rates for multi-city combinations

👉 Check latest Etihad offers here

This can sometimes drop the fare lower than the examples above.

💡 2. Travel Light to Save More

If you can skip checked luggage on certain legs, you can save about:

💰 MYR 85 per route

For many DIY Umrah travellers, a 7kg cabin bag + a compact ihram bag is more than enough for the outbound journey.
You can add checked baggage only on the return.

🧳 Recommended Tools for DIY Umrah Travellers

📱 eSIM (Highly recommended)

• Airalo eSIM   
• Holafly eSIM (optional)

🪪 Lanyard + Hotel Card

Keep your hotel name in front. Simple but life-saving.  👉 Get it at our AaraStories TikTok Shop

🔌 Power Bank

Essential for long transits and navigation. 👉 Get TSA approved Power Bank from our AaraStories TikTok Shop

 🚌 Intercity Bus Tickets

• Haramain / NWBus from Jeddah ↔ Madinah

🛏️ Etihad Stopover Hotels

• Perfect for long layovers in Abu Dhabi.

🌹 Final Thoughts

Whether you choose Option 1 or Option 2, the journey will always be blessed as long as your niyyah is sincere.

Flying Etihad simply makes the logistics easier, smoother, and often more comfortable — giving you more time to focus on what truly matters:
your ibadah, your doa, your heart.