Hajj minister: Number of foreign Umrah pilgrims doubled in 3 years

JEDDAH — Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said that the number of Umrah pilgrims arriving from outside the Kingdom increased from approximately 8.4 million in 2022 to 18 million in 2025. “During the same period, the number of visitors to Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah rose from around 6 million to nearly 16 million. These achievements were made possible by continuous service development and the concerted efforts of the relevant authorities,” he said.The minister made the remarks while attending a ministerial session titled "Serving the Pilgrims: An Integrated National Ecosystem," on the second day of the sixth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah on Monday. The session discussed the integration of efforts by governmental and executive bodies in serving the pilgrims, developing mechanisms for joint cooperation, and raising the level of preparedness for the 1448 AH Hajj season.Speakers at the session also included Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb; General Authority of Civil Aviation President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, Director of Public Security Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami; and Makkah Mayor Musaed Al-Dawood.Al-Rabiah pointed out that more than 60 government agencies are involved in the Hajj system, operating under approximately 600 annual operational plans. The Hajj Projects Management Office coordinates and aligns these plans, resolves potential overlaps, and monitors operational indicators through the Command and Control Center, thereby strengthening preparedness and enhancing the efficiency of services provided to the guests of God. Addressing the session, Minister of Tourism Al-Khateeb highlighted the ministry's role as a key partner in the system of serving the guests of God. He noted that the ministry has assumed responsibility for overseeing pilgrims' accommodation in coordination with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, while working to improve the quality of accommodation facilities. He revealed that approximately 400 buildings had been taken out of service for failing to meet safety and quality standards. Al-Khateeb announced the completion of licensing procedures for buildings designated to accommodate pilgrims during the Hajj season of 2027, as part of early preparations and planning.