The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced on March 20, 2025, that the number of Umrah performers rose by 31 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the same period in 2023, according to its official quarterly Umrah statistics report released in Riyadh. The data, published through the Saudi Press Agency, confirms that the Kingdom hosted a significantly larger volume of worshippers during the final three months of last year, underscoring the continued expansion of the pilgrimage ecosystem under the Pilgrim Experience Program. The report showed that male worshippers constituted about 53 percent of the total, while female worshippers accounted for 47 percent. Saudi nationals comprised 4.5 percent of all Umrah performers, with the Makkah Region recording the highest number of domestic participants. These figures reflect a steadily widening base of visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom.
Why does a single quarterly statistic carry such weight for the Kingdom and for the millions of Muslims who aspire to perform Umrah? Because it measures far more than footfall at the Grand Mosque. It captures the combined effect of visa facilitation, digital booking platforms, expanded air and ground connectivity, and the careful stewardship of the Two Holy Mosques by the Saudi leadership. The fourth-quarter 2024 report is the latest in a series that GASTAT has issued every quarter since 2024, drawing on data from the Pilgrim Experience Program and approved statistical models. That cadence matters: it gives planners, service providers, and international partners a reliable picture of demand as the Kingdom prepares for continued growth in religious tourism.
Context and Background
How did quarterly Umrah reporting become a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s statistical transparency? The General Authority for Statistics began publishing dedicated Umrah statistics on a quarterly basis in 2024, a decision that aligned the measurement of pilgrimage activity with the Kingdom’s broader commitment to data-driven policymaking. The reports detail the numbers and percentages of domestic and international Umrah performers, drawing on information from the Pilgrim Experience Program, one of the executive programs of Saudi Vision 2030, along with approved statistical models. By releasing the data every three months, GASTAT provides a continuous record rather than a single annual snapshot, allowing officials and analysts to track seasonal patterns, nationality mixes, and the effectiveness of service upgrades in near real time.
The fourth-quarter period is particularly significant because it spans the months of October, November, and December, a window that includes school holidays, cooler weather in Makkah, and the peak travel season for many international visitors. The report’s finding that December recorded the highest share of international Umrah performers at 38.2 percent illustrates how strongly the calendar shapes demand. At the same time, November recorded the highest percentage of domestic Umrah performers completing the ritual for the first time, representing 34 percent of the total, suggesting that awareness campaigns and improved domestic access are bringing new Saudi participants into the experience. Together, these patterns show a pilgrimage system that is maturing across both local and global segments.
What does the 31 percent year-on-year increase tell us about the trajectory of religious visitation to the Kingdom? It indicates that the expansion is not marginal but structural. The growth is occurring across multiple categories simultaneously: overall volume, international arrivals, and domestic participation. That breadth distinguishes the current phase from earlier periods when a single market or season drove the numbers. It also reflects the cumulative effect of investments in airport capacity, hospitality, digital services, and crowd management that have been underway for several years. In practical terms, the fourth quarter of 2024 served as a stress test of those systems, and the reported outcomes suggest they performed well.
Key Details
What exactly do the GASTAT figures reveal about the composition of Umrah performers in the fourth quarter of 2024? The report states that the total number of Umrah performers increased by 31 percent compared with the same quarter in 2023. Male worshippers made up approximately 53 percent of the total, and female worshippers accounted for 47 percent, a distribution that reflects the broad participation of families and individuals from many backgrounds. Saudi nationals represented 4.5 percent of all Umrah performers, while the Makkah Region recorded the highest number of domestic Umrah performers among the Kingdom’s regions. These details provide a demographic and geographic profile that is useful for service planning, transport scheduling, and accommodation management across the holy sites and surrounding areas.
The international dimension of the report is equally instructive. GASTAT recorded a 26.2 percent increase in international Umrah performers compared with the same quarter of the previous year. Of those international worshippers, 64.7 percent arrived holding an Umrah visa, a figure that highlights the importance of streamlined visa processes in enabling access to the Kingdom. December saw the highest number of international Umrah performers at 38.2 percent, while November recorded the highest percentage of domestic Umrah performers completing the ritual for the first time, at 34 percent of the total. These seasonal and procedural details help explain how policy tools, such as expanded visa categories and digital application platforms, translate into actual arrivals at the Grand Mosque.
How reliable is the underlying data? The statistics are based on information from the Pilgrim Experience Program and approved statistical models, and they are issued by the General Authority for Statistics, the Kingdom’s official statistical authority. The quarterly format, in place since 2024, allows for consistent comparison across periods and reduces the risk of distortion that can occur with irregular reporting. For international audiences, this means the figures can be treated as an authoritative baseline for understanding the scale of Umrah activity. For Saudi agencies, the data supports operational decisions ranging from staffing at entry points to the timing of infrastructure maintenance and expansion projects. The report therefore serves both public transparency and practical administration.
International and Regional Impact
Why should the international community pay attention to a rise in Umrah performers? Because the pilgrimage is a global undertaking that touches every continent. The 26.2 percent increase in international Umrah performers means that more travellers from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas are entering the Kingdom, using its airports, staying in its hotels, and interacting with its service sector. This flow strengthens people-to-people ties and reinforces Saudi Arabia’s role as the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. It also creates opportunities for airlines, travel agencies, and hospitality operators in partner countries to build capacity and offer packages that meet the expectations of modern pilgrims. The visa data, showing that 64.7 percent of international performers arrived with an Umrah visa, points to the centrality of consular and digital entry systems in sustaining this growth.
Regionally, the increase has implications for transport corridors and for the economies of neighbouring countries. Many international worshippers transit through regional hubs before arriving in Jeddah, Madinah, or other Saudi gateways. Higher volumes can stimulate demand for connecting flights, ground transport, and short-stay accommodation along these routes. Within the Kingdom, the concentration of domestic performers in the Makkah Region underscores the importance of local infrastructure and community services in the areas surrounding the holy sites. As the numbers grow, so does the need for coordinated planning across sectors, from health services to waste management to public transport. The fourth-quarter data provides an early signal of where additional investment may be required in the coming years.
Economic and Strategic Significance
What economic value does the Umrah sector generate for Saudi Arabia? Religious tourism is a major contributor to the non-oil economy, supporting employment in hospitality, retail, logistics, and services. A 31 percent increase in Umrah performers translates into higher spending on accommodation, food, transport, and religious goods, much of it in the Makkah and Madinah regions. The report’s finding that Saudi nationals comprised 4.5 percent of the total, with the Makkah Region leading domestic participation, also indicates that local businesses benefit from domestic demand alongside international arrivals. For a country pursuing economic diversification, this is a meaningful and sustainable source of activity that aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Strategically, the data supports the Kingdom’s ambition to expand pilgrimage capacity in a managed and dignified manner. The Pilgrim Experience Program is designed to improve the quality of services, enhance the visitor journey, and increase the number of pilgrims over time. The quarterly statistics allow policymakers to measure progress against those objectives and to adjust operations as needed. The fact that December recorded the highest share of international performers at 38.2 percent, while November saw the highest share of first-time domestic performers at 34 percent, shows that different segments peak at different times. Understanding these rhythms helps authorities optimise staffing, transport, and crowd management, ensuring that the spiritual experience remains safe and fulfilling for all.
Vision 2030 Alignment
How does the rise in Umrah performers connect to Saudi Vision 2030? The Vision, launched under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, seeks to diversify the economy, strengthen public services, and enhance the Kingdom’s global role. The Pilgrim Experience Program is one of the Vision’s key executive programs, and its success is measured in part by the kind of data GASTAT has released. A 31 percent annual increase in Umrah performers, alongside a 26.2 percent rise in international worshippers, demonstrates that the strategy is delivering results. It also reinforces the Kingdom’s standing as a destination of choice for Muslims worldwide, a position that carries cultural and diplomatic value as well as economic benefit.
What comes next? The trajectory suggests continued growth, supported by ongoing investments in airport expansion, high-speed rail, digital services, and hospitality. The quarterly reporting framework established in 2024 will allow officials and the public to track that growth with clarity. For international observers, the message is that Saudi Arabia is managing one of the world’s largest recurring gatherings of people with increasing sophistication and transparency. As the Kingdom continues to implement Vision 2030, the pilgrimage sector will remain a central pillar of its economic and cultural strategy, welcoming millions while preserving the sanctity and safety of the holy sites. The fourth-quarter 2024 report is both a record of achievement and a foundation for the next phase of expansion.
20 Questions
Q1. What did GASTAT announce about Umrah performers in Q4 2024?
A1. GASTAT announced that the number of Umrah performers increased by 31 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter in 2023, according to its official quarterly report released on March 20, 2025.
Q2. What percentage of Umrah performers were male and female?
A2. The report showed that male worshippers constituted about 53 percent of the total, while female worshippers accounted for 47 percent, reflecting broad participation across different demographic groups.
Q3. How many Umrah performers were Saudi nationals?
A3. Saudi nationals comprised 4.5 percent of the total number of Umrah performers, with the Makkah Region recording the highest number of domestic participants among the Kingdom’s regions.
Q4. What was the increase in international Umrah performers?
A4. The report indicated a 26.2 percent increase in international Umrah performers compared with the same quarter of the previous year, showing strong growth in arrivals from outside the Kingdom.
Q5. What percentage of international performers arrived with an Umrah visa?
A5. Of the international Umrah performers, 64.7 percent arrived holding an Umrah visa, highlighting the importance of streamlined visa processes in facilitating access to the Kingdom.
Q6. Which month saw the highest number of international Umrah performers?
A6. December recorded the highest number of international Umrah performers at 38.2 percent, reflecting the seasonal peak in international arrivals during the final month of the year.
Q7. Which month had the highest percentage of first-time domestic performers?
A7. November recorded the highest percentage of domestic Umrah performers completing the ritual for the first time, representing 34 percent of the total for that period.
Q8. When did GASTAT begin issuing quarterly Umrah statistics?
A8. Umrah statistics have been issued quarterly since 2024, providing a consistent and regular record of pilgrimage activity based on data from the Pilgrim Experience Program and approved statistical models.
Q9. What is the source of the data in the GASTAT report?
A9. The data is drawn from the Pilgrim Experience Program, one of the executive programs of Saudi Vision 2030, along with approved statistical models used by the General Authority for Statistics.
Q10. Why is the fourth quarter significant for Umrah?
A10. The fourth quarter includes cooler weather in Makkah, school holidays, and peak travel periods for many international visitors, making it a key window for pilgrimage activity and service planning.
Q11. How does the increase benefit the Saudi economy?
A11. Higher numbers of Umrah performers boost spending in hospitality, retail, transport, and services, supporting employment and contributing to the diversification of the non-oil economy under Vision 2030.
Q12. What role does the Pilgrim Experience Program play?
A12. The Pilgrim Experience Program is a Vision 2030 executive program designed to improve services, enhance the visitor journey, and increase the number of pilgrims in a managed and dignified manner.
Q13. Which region had the most domestic Umrah performers?
A13. The Makkah Region recorded the highest number of domestic Umrah performers, reflecting its proximity to the holy sites and the strength of local infrastructure and services.
Q14. How does the report reflect Saudi Arabia’s transparency?
A14. By publishing detailed quarterly statistics through GASTAT, the Kingdom provides a reliable, consistent record of pilgrimage activity that supports public transparency and informed policymaking.
Q15. What does the 31 percent increase indicate about the pilgrimage system?
A15. It indicates structural growth across overall volume, international arrivals, and domestic participation, reflecting the cumulative effect of investments in capacity, services, and digital infrastructure.
Q16. How does the report help international partners?
A16. The data gives airlines, travel agencies, and hospitality operators in partner countries a reliable picture of demand, helping them plan capacity and offer packages that meet modern pilgrim expectations.
Q17. What is the significance of the Umrah visa figure?
A17. The finding that 64.7 percent of international performers arrived with an Umrah visa underscores the centrality of consular and digital entry systems in enabling and sustaining growth.
Q18. How does the report support Vision 2030?
A18. It measures progress toward the goals of the Pilgrim Experience Program, demonstrating that the strategy to expand and improve pilgrimage services is delivering results aligned with Vision 2030.
Q19. What does the gender distribution suggest?
A19. The 53 percent male and 47 percent female split suggests broad participation by families and individuals, reflecting the inclusive nature of Umrah and the accessibility of the Kingdom’s services.
Q20. What is the outlook for Umrah in Saudi Arabia?
A20. The trajectory points to continued growth, supported by ongoing investments in airports, rail, digital services, and hospitality, with quarterly reporting allowing officials and the public to track progress clearly.
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