Saudi Arabia welcomed 19.5 million international pilgrims and Umrah performers during 2025, according to the Pilgrim Experience Program's 2025 annual report. The figures, highlighted in reporting by Arab News on September 25, 2026, point to strong and sustained demand for religious travel to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

The report frames the numbers as evidence that Makkah is shifting from a seasonal economy toward a year-round, investment-driven one. The Pilgrim Experience Program is one of the initiatives under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, tasked with improving services across the pilgrimage journey.

The headline numbers

Of the 19.5 million total, some 18.03 million were Umrah performers and about 1.5 million were Hajj pilgrims, according to the report. The Umrah figure represents a 114 percent increase compared with 2022, underscoring how quickly the sector has recovered and grown.

The Kingdom issued 15.03 million pilgrimage visas over the year, of which 83 percent were Umrah visas. Pakistan, Indonesia and Egypt were the leading source countries. Separate data cited in coverage of the report recorded more than 15.2 million Umrah performers in the first quarter of 2026 alone, a sign that momentum has carried into the current season.

Satisfaction and service quality

Beyond raw arrivals, the report measures how pilgrims rated their experience. Hajj pilgrim satisfaction reached 91 percent and Umrah performer satisfaction reached 94 percent, with both figures said to exceed national benchmark targets.

One of the sharpest improvements was recorded at Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah in the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, where visitor satisfaction climbed to 88 percent from 57 percent in 2022. The report logged more than 16 million visitors to Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah over the period.

The program said it implemented 87 initiatives in coordination with more than 60 partner entities during the year, reporting full compliance on their rollout. It also cited more than 184,000 male and female volunteers and over 55 million visits to enrichment destinations and historical sites developed for pilgrims and visitors.

Makkah and Madinah on the global map

The report places the two holy cities among the world's leading destinations. Makkah ranked fifth globally among cities for international visitors, while Madinah placed seventh in a tourism performance measure, according to figures tied to the report. The rankings reflect both the scale of arrivals and the investment in housing, hospitality, retail, logistics and transit that the program highlights.

Taken together, the data suggests the Kingdom is managing larger crowds while raising service standards rather than trading one against the other. For pilgrims, the practical upshot is a steadily more digital, structured and closely monitored journey, from visa issuance through the rites themselves.

Practical tips for pilgrims:

  • Expect high demand year-round; book accommodation and permits early, especially during Ramadan and school-holiday peaks.
  • Reserve an Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah visit slot through the Nusuk app in advance, as access is managed by timed permits.
  • Factor in the meningitis vaccination and other health requirements well before departure.
  • Use official channels for visas and bookings to benefit from the service standards the program monitors.
  • Allow extra time for travel between sites, as record arrivals mean busier transit around the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque.