Hajj Minister: Number of Foreign Umrah Pilgrims Doubled in Three Years

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, announced that the number of Umrah pilgrims arriving from outside the kingdom has grown from approximately 8.4 million people in 2022 to 18 million in 2025.

According to him, during the same period, the number of visitors to Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa in the Prophet's Mosque in Medina increased from approximately 6 million to nearly 16 million people. The minister noted that these results became possible thanks to continuous service development and coordinated efforts of relevant authorities.

Statement Made at Hajj Conference in Jeddah

Al-Rabiah presented these figures at a ministerial session titled "Pilgrimage Services: An Integrated National Ecosystem," held on the second day of the sixth Hajj Congress and Exhibition in Jeddah. Session participants discussed the coordination of efforts by government and executive bodies in serving pilgrims, mechanisms for joint cooperation, and readiness levels for the Hajj season of 1448 AH (2026).

The minister emphasized that more than 60 government agencies are involved in the Hajj organization system, implementing approximately 600 annual operational plans. The coordination and alignment of these plans, elimination of possible conflicts, and monitoring of operational indicators are carried out by the Hajj Projects Office through the Control and Monitoring Center.

Participation of Other Authorities

The session was also attended by Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Abdulaziz Ad-Duailij, Chief of Public Security Lieutenant General Muhammad Al-Bassami, and Mayor of Mecca Musaid Ad-Dawood.

Tourism Minister Al-Khateeb spoke about his ministry's role as a key partner in the pilgrimage service system. He noted that the ministry has taken control of pilgrims' accommodation in coordination with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and is working to improve the quality of accommodation facilities. According to him, approximately 400 buildings were taken out of service for failing to meet safety and quality standards. He also announced the completion of licensing procedures for buildings intended for pilgrims' accommodation during the 2027 Hajj season as part of early preparation and planning.

Sources: Saudi Gazette

#Umra #Makka #Madina #Hajj #Saudiya #SaudiArabia #Palomniki