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Record Umrah Surge: 11.7 Million Pilgrims in Rabi Al-Than / AI-Generated Illustration
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, together with the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques, reported more than 11.7 million Umrah performers during the Hijri month of Rabi al-Thani, one of the highest monthly totals recorded.
Officials said over 1.5 million of those pilgrims came from abroad, underlining the global draw of the pilgrimage. The two holy mosques also recorded tens of millions of visits during the month, signaling major demand on infrastructure and services.
Record numbers at the two holy Mosques
The monumental figure of 11,748,153 Umrah performers is just one part of a larger story of massive visitation. The official statistics, released by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the General Authority forthe Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, paint a picture of immense spiritual traffic:
- International Arrivals: More than 1.5 million Umrah pilgrims traveled from around the world to Makkah.
- Total Holy Site Visitors: Across both the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, the total number of visitors and worshippers for the month exceeded 54.5 million.
- Makkah Worshippers: The Grand Mosque alone welcomed over 17.7 million worshippers.
- Madinah Visitors: The Prophet's Mosque in Madinah saw over 21.3 million visitors, including over 2 million who were able to pray in the revered Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa.
This dramatic influx demonstrates the successful efforts to accommodate and welcome an ever-increasing global Muslim population.
Completing Umrah in 116 minutes
What makes this record truly remarkable is not just the sheer number of people, but the speed and ease with which they completed the pilgrimage. Despite having over 11.7 million people performing the ritual, the authorities managed to maintain exceptional efficiency.The average time taken for a pilgrim to perform the entire Umrah ritual was a mere 116 minutes—less than two hours.This impressive feat was achieved through rigorous organization and technology, ensuring every stage of the pilgrimage was streamlined:
| Ritual Phase | Average Time Taken | Key Detail |
| Tawaf (Circumambulation) | 42 minutes | 92% of pilgrims performed this in the main Mataf area. |
| Sa’i (Safa and Marwah) | 46 minutes | 83% of pilgrims used the ground floor for this ritual. |
| Courtyard to Mataf Movement | 15 minutes | Efficient navigation to the starting point. |
| Mataf to Sa’i Movement | 13 minutes | Seamless transition between the two main rituals. |
Why did the numbers jump?
Officials attribute the surge to Saudi Arabia’s recent reforms and operational upgrades:
- Digital platforms & streamlined booking: The Nusuk Umrah platform and other digital tools have simplified planning, bookings and permit management for pilgrims.
- Policy liberalisation: Recent policy moves including allowing more visa categories to perform Umrah, opened access to more travellers worldwide.
- Improved logistics & capacity: Investment in crowd management, transport links and mosque services under Vision 2030 helped handle larger flows more smoothly.
Together these measures turn what used to be a complex process into a far more accessible pilgrimage for many first-time and repeat visitors.
Conclusion
The unprecedented attendance of over 11.7 million Umrah pilgrims in the single month of Rabi Al-Thani marks a spectacular success for Saudi Arabia, validating the core goals of its Vision 2030 program to enhance the pilgrimage ecosystem. This record-breaking surge, which included over 1.5 million international arrivals, was handled with remarkable efficiency, evidenced by the average Umrah ritual being completed in just 116 minutes.
This success is directly attributed to the Kingdom's heavy investment in digital tools and logistical services, including advanced sensor technologies and smart crowd management systems at the Two Holy Mosques, which prioritize pilgrim safety and spiritual tranquility. With simplified visa rules now allowing Umrah under most visa types for the 2026 season, Saudi Arabia is aggressively removing barriers and paving the way for sustained, record-level spiritual tourism on its path toward accommodating 30 million Umrah pilgrims annually.
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