In early 2025, Saudi Arabia welcomed over 15 million Umrah pilgrims, with international arrivals and domestic participation showing distinct monthly trends/Image: File
In the first three months of 2025, Saudi Arabia welcomed a total of 15.2 million Umrah pilgrims, reflecting a strong uptrend in religious travel. Approximately one-quarter of these pilgrims were Saudi nationals, while the majority of international visitors arrived by air. The data also reveal interesting monthly fluctuations between international and domestic pilgrims, alongside substantial visitation to Madinah.
Record Umrah numbers and demographics
The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) reported that 15,222,497 pilgrims performed Umrah during Q1 2025. Of these, Saudis represented 24%, highlighting that most pilgrims were foreign or non-Saudi residents within the Kingdom. Gender distribution showed a predominance of males, who accounted for 60.5% of pilgrims, while females made up 39.5%.International pilgrims numbered 6,523,630 in this period, marking a 10.7% increase compared to the first quarter of 2024. The majority of these overseas visitors—82.2%—entered Saudi Arabia via airports, underscoring the importance of air travel in facilitating Umrah pilgrimages.Meanwhile, 8,698,867 pilgrims were domestic performers. Among them, non-Saudis residing in the Kingdom made up 58%, reflecting the significant presence of expatriate communities engaging in Umrah.
Monthly variations in pilgrimage trends
January 2025 was the peak month for international pilgrims, with arrivals accounting for 36.5% of the total Umrah performers during the quarter. Conversely, March saw the lowest number of foreign pilgrims.Domestic pilgrimages followed a different pattern: March recorded the highest proportion of local performers, representing 80.9% of the domestic total for the quarter, while January had the lowest domestic participation.
Madinah visitation figures
Madinah attracted 6,452,696 visitors in Q1 2025, of which 4,412,689 were international visitors. This significant footfall reflects Madinah’s continuing appeal as a major religious and cultural destination, complementing the Umrah pilgrimage to Makkah.
Data sources and reporting
The quarterly statistics on Umrah and Madinah visitors have been published since 2024. They rely on a combination of field surveys and administrative data from the Pilgrim Experience Program and the Ministry of Tourism. Approved statistical models help ensure the accuracy and comprehensiveness of these reports, offering detailed insights into religious travel patterns within and outside Saudi Arabia Go to Source
