Dubai: More than 6.5 million international Umrah pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia during the first quarter of 2025, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq Al Rabiah has announced.
Speaking at the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum 2025, Al Rabiah noted that the number of pilgrims and visitors from outside the Kingdom rose by over 11 per cent compared to the same period last year — a testament to the growing demand and the Kingdom’s expanding capacity to welcome pilgrims from around the world.
Highlighting developments in transport infrastructure, the minister pointed to the remarkable rise in usage of the Haramain High-Speed Railway, which saw passenger numbers increase from 3.3 million in 2022 to 8.8 million in 2024. This growth, he said, reflects ongoing improvements in the quality and efficiency of services offered to pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques.
“This edition of the forum features strong participation from 330 licensed Saudi Umrah companies, who will engage with 8,000 international Umrah agents,” Al Rabiah added. “We expect nearly 4,000 agreements to be signed during the event, paving the way for broader cooperation and enhanced pilgrim services,” the Hajj Minister added.
As part of preparations for the Hajj season, the Ministry has announced that Sunday, April 13, will be the final date for Umrah pilgrims to enter the Kingdom, with April 29 set as the deadline for departure.
