Rawdah guide

Rawdah with elderly parents or a wheelchair

Taking elderly parents to the Rawdah: manual wheelchairs are allowed, every person needs their own permit, and how to pick a time, a hotel and a plan that keeps them calm.

Quick answer

Elderly visitors may enter the Rawdah in a manual wheelchair, according to the General Authority for the Two Holy Mosques. Each parent still needs their own free Nusuk permit for a set slot, and men and women go at separate times. Pick a daytime window after rest, stay close to the mosque's southern side, and plan who goes with each parent.

Last checked 2 November 2026. The authorities change Rawdah rules from time to time, so check Nusuk for your dates.

What the rules say

  • Elderly visitors are permitted to enter using a manual wheelchair.
  • Every visitor aged 5 and over needs their own permit, including the person pushing the wheelchair.
  • Men and women visit at separate times, so a mother and father usually go in different windows with different companions.
  • Entry is through the southern courtyards, opposite Makkah Gate 37.

Sources: Siasat Daily (6 Dec 2025), reporting the General Authority for the Two Holy Mosques: timings, once every 365 days, Instant Track, wheelchairs, Gate 37; Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: FAQ (age 5 and over, companions, 30-day interval)

Wheelchairs at the mosque

The mosque authority reports free wheelchairs and lifts for elderly and disabled visitors. A manual wheelchair is what the Rawdah rules mention, so if your parent uses an electric one, plan to switch for the visit.

Sources: Saudi Press Agency: services for elderly and disabled women at the Prophet's Mosque; Siasat Daily (6 Dec 2025), reporting the General Authority for the Two Holy Mosques: timings, once every 365 days, Instant Track, wheelchairs, Gate 37

A calm plan for parents

  • Choose a daytime window after rest rather than a 2:00 am slot.
  • Stay in a hotel close to the southern side of the mosque to cut the walk.
  • Aim to arrive 30–45 minutes early so nobody has to rush, but not so early that they stand for long.
  • Charge the phone that holds the permits, and keep a screenshot as a back-up.
  • Agree a meeting point outside before you go in, as men and women come out at different places.
  • Keep the visit short and calm inside: about 10–15 minutes per group.

Source: Siasat Daily (6 Dec 2025), reporting the General Authority for the Two Holy Mosques: timings, once every 365 days, Instant Track, wheelchairs, Gate 37

The permit is free

Slots full, or booking for parents or a group?

You can book the Rawdah yourself for free in Nusuk. If you'd rather not keep refreshing, our team watches for slots and books men's and women's windows inside your Madinah stay. You pay our fee only once a slot is confirmed.

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Questions

Can my mother go into the Rawdah in a wheelchair?

Yes. The authority says elderly visitors may enter in a manual wheelchair. She needs her own permit for a women's slot, and so does the woman pushing the chair.

Can I go in with my father if he needs help?

A son can accompany his father in a men's slot; each of you needs your own permit. A son cannot accompany his mother inside, because women's times are separate.

What is the easiest time for elderly parents?

Usually a daytime window: men from 11:20 am, women from after Fajr until 11:00 am. Avoid the late-night windows if they tire easily.

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