Saudi Arabia recorded more than 15.2 million Umrah performers during the first quarter of 2026, according to data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The figure underlines the continued strength of pilgrimage traffic to Makkah and Madinah as the Kingdom opens a new Umrah season.
GASTAT records 15.2 million in the first quarter
According to the GASTAT report, a total of 15,233,767 people performed Umrah between January and March 2026. Men accounted for 59.4 percent of the total and women for 40.6 percent. Domestic performers made up nearly two-thirds of the figure, numbering about 9.46 million, while roughly 5.77 million arrived from outside Saudi Arabia.
Among domestic pilgrims, family trips were by far the most common, accounting for 75.4 percent of internal performers. Individual journeys made up 17.2 percent and trips with friends 7.4 percent. Domestic activity peaked in February, with 4.56 million internal performers recorded that month.
By region, Makkah recorded the highest number of domestic Umrah performers, at about 4.07 million or 43 percent of the internal total, followed by Riyadh with about 2.03 million. Most domestic pilgrims performed Umrah once during the quarter, with about 9.03 million doing so a single time and a smaller group of 438,388 performing it more than once.
How international pilgrims arrived and who they were
Air travel dominated international arrivals. According to the data, 86 percent of external pilgrims entered through airports, with land crossings accounting for 13.6 percent and seaports just 0.4 percent. January was the busiest month for international arrivals, drawing about 2.24 million performers, while March recorded the lowest figure at around 1.39 million.
The profile of pilgrims differed between the two groups. Among external performers, the largest age band was 55 to 64 years, at 18.8 percent. For domestic performers, the 25 to 34 age group was the largest, at 25.3 percent. GASTAT also reported about 5.7 million visitors to Madinah for religious purposes during the quarter, combining internal and external visitors.
New 1448 season opens with a 22.5 percent rise
The strong quarter has carried into the current pilgrimage cycle. Saudi Arabia's 1448 AH Umrah season has seen a rise in international arrivals, with the Kingdom welcoming 931,500 Umrah pilgrims during the opening weeks. That represented a 22.5 percent increase in Umrah visa arrivals compared with the same early period a year earlier.
The Kingdom began issuing visas for the new season on May 31, following the conclusion of the 1447 AH Hajj. The season is scheduled to continue until March 23, 2027, while the final date for issuing Umrah visas is March 9, 2027. Pilgrims must enter Saudi Arabia by March 23 and leave by April 7.
Planning tips for the current Umrah season
Pilgrims planning a visit this season should book early, as demand remains high across the year. Umrah permits and related services, including hotel and transport bookings, are arranged through Nusuk, the Kingdom's unified digital platform for pilgrimage services.
Those who expect to make more than one trip should note the one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa introduced in July, which is valid for 365 days and allows repeat visits during its validity. A fresh Nusuk package and Umrah permit are still needed for each separate journey. Travellers should also keep the season's fixed entry and exit dates in mind when arranging flights, and complete all bookings through official channels to avoid unauthorised intermediaries.
For those weighing when to travel, the monthly pattern in the GASTAT data is a useful guide. January and February drew the heaviest crowds, so pilgrims seeking a quieter experience may prefer to plan around the busiest weeks. Whenever they go, worshippers are encouraged to arrive with bookings confirmed in advance, as the Kingdom continues to tie entry to the Nusuk system.