Saudi Arabia's rail network carried more than 83 million passengers in the first half of 2026, a rise of at least 16 percent on the same period a year earlier, according to figures from the Transport General Authority. The growth underlines how central rail has become to moving pilgrims and residents across the Kingdom, including on the line that links the two holy cities.

The numbers point to a steady shift away from road travel and toward high-capacity rail, a change that carries direct benefits for pilgrims performing Umrah and preparing for Hajj.

The Haramain High-Speed Railway

The Haramain High-Speed Railway connects Makkah and Madinah through Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Abdullah Economic City. According to the Transport General Authority, the line carried around 2 million passengers in the first quarter of 2026 and a further 1.6 million in the second quarter, for roughly 3.6 million journeys in the first half of the year.

For pilgrims, the Haramain line has transformed travel between the two holy cities. A journey that once took many hours by road can now be completed in about two and a half hours at speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour. The airport station also allows arriving pilgrims to move quickly toward Makkah without a long coach transfer.

Urban rail leads the growth

While the Haramain line serves pilgrims directly, most of the passenger growth came from urban networks. Urban rail accounted for about 78 million of the journeys recorded in the first half of 2026, with the Riyadh Metro alone carrying more than 60.7 million passengers.

The Transport General Authority said the strong figures reflect the expanding role of rail as authorities seek to ease congestion, cut road traffic and improve mobility in major cities. The same investment in capacity and reliability supports the movement of the millions who travel for Umrah throughout the year.

Why this matters for pilgrims

Crowd movement is one of the biggest challenges of Hajj and Umrah. Reliable, high-volume rail reduces pressure on roads, shortens transfer times and makes journeys more predictable, particularly during the peak Umrah months and the days surrounding Hajj.

Separately, the fully electric Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro links the holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat during the Hajj season. That line can move large numbers of pilgrims between the sites in around 20 minutes per trip, easing the historic congestion of bus-based transport on the busiest days.

Taken together, the expansion of the Haramain line, the Mashaaer metro and the wider rail network reflects a long-term plan to make pilgrim travel safer and smoother as visitor numbers continue to climb.

Practical tips for pilgrims

  • Book Haramain tickets early during busy periods. Seats between Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah sell out quickly in peak Umrah season.
  • Use the airport station at King Abdulaziz International Airport to reach Makkah or Madinah without arranging a separate road transfer.
  • Arrive in good time. High-speed trains depart on schedule, and security and boarding take time during crowded periods.
  • Travel light on the platform. Keep essential documents and Ihram items within easy reach, especially if you plan to enter Ihram before arriving in Makkah.
  • Check official schedules through recognised booking channels rather than informal resellers.

For pilgrims, the message from the first-half figures is encouraging. The Kingdom is steadily building the capacity to move worshippers between the holy cities and the holy sites with greater speed and comfort, allowing pilgrims to focus on their worship rather than the strain of the journey.