18.5 M Pilgrims Performed Hajj-Umrah in 2024

A record 18.5 million pilgrims performed Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia last year, marking a giant rise in Umrah visitors and significant strides in service delivery and infrastructure under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. According to the Doyof Al Rahman Programme’s annual report, 16.92 million pilgrims came for Umrah, surpassing official targets and reflecting a 101 per cent increase from 2022.

Officials credited the growth to the integration of services and streamlined procedures that made the pilgrimage experience smooth-er and more accessible. The report also underscored Saudi Arabia’s rising global standing as a reli-gious tourism hub. Mecca ranked fifth globally in the number of international visitors, while Medina climbed to seventh place on the global Tourism Performance Index.

Launched as part of Vision 2030, the Doyof Al Rahman Programme aims to enhance every stage of the pilgrim journey, from arrival and transportation to cultural enrichment and religious rites. In 2024, the programme rolled out 89 initiatives in collaboration with more than 40 government agencies, achieving a 95 per cent compliance rate.

One notable success was the surge in visits to Al Rawdah Al Sharif at the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, which received more than 13 million visitors in 2024, compared to just four million in 2022. Visitor satisfaction rose sharply- from 57 to 81 per cent- underscoring improvements in service quality and user experience.

Volunteerism also witnessed an unprecedented boost. More than 153,000 volunteers supported pilgrims during the year, up from just 15,000 in 2022- an increase officials described as a “qualitative leap” and a sign of growing community engagement.

International collaboration played a crucial role as well. A series of 33 foreign visits by public and private sector representatives- including airlines and service providers- helped resolve logistical bottlenecks, opened new travel corridors, and increased transport capacity for pilgrims. Digitisation formed a core pillar of these efforts.

The Nusuk platform now offers more than 100 services, while the Mecca Route initiative has benefited over 940,000 travellers. Enaya care centres provided services to nearly three million individuals. The Nusuk app has become a vital tool for millions of Muslims worldwide, with Tawfiq Al Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah, calling it a milestone of the 1445 Hajj season.

The minister also pointed to the reopening of 15 historic sites tied to the Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) life in Mecca and Medina as a key cultural achievement of the year. These efforts, he said, reflect “the morals of the authentic Saudi Muslim” and the deep sense of responsibility carried by the Kingdom’s institutions.

Al Rabiah praised the work of the 40+ partner entities behind the pro-gram’s success and expressed hope for even greater progress in 2025. “These achievements are not coincidental,” he said. “They are the result of tireless dedication, smart planning, and an unwavering commitment to serve pilgrims.”