His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah preserve and protect him, has once again reaffirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s enduring welcome to the Guests of the Merciful. In a statement that underscores both tradition and modern commitment, he reiterated that the doors of the Two Holy Mosques remain open wide to all pilgrims seeking spiritual solace.
Amid this gracious assurance, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also engaged with comprehensive data detailing this year’s Umrah pilgrimage activities. According to the latest bulletins, the first quarter of 2025 alone saw an impressive 15.2 million pilgrims journey to the holy sites—comprising over 6.5 million visitors from abroad, marking a 10.7 percent rise from the same period last year, and approximately 8.7 million domestic pilgrims
Further insight from GASTAT reveals a demographic balance among the pilgrims: Saudi nationals accounted for about 24 percent of the total, with male pilgrims constituting 60.5 percent and women making up 39.5 percent.
Most of the international pilgrims, approximately 82.2 percent, arrived by air, reflecting the efficiency and scale of aviation infrastructure supporting the spiritual journey
Moreover, the city of Madinah also received sizeable numbers during the same period, with more than 6.45 million visitors, including 4.4 million from overseas, drawn to the Prophet’s Mosque and its surroundings
This data not only demonstrates the Kingdom’s seamless management of massive pilgrim flows but also highlights significant year-on-year growth, testament to the success of ongoing service enhancements, infrastructure development, and the abiding spirit of hospitality the Saudi leadership continues to champion.
