Saudi Reports 78.8M Visits to the Holy Mosques in Rajab

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Riyadh: Saudi authorities announced that 78,843,425 people visited Islam’s holiest sites the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah during the Islamic month of Rajab 1447 AH, highlighting an unusually high level of religious activity and enhanced operational capacity.

 The figures, released by the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques, reveal large numbers of worshippers and pilgrims making spiritual journeys at both sites. More than 34.9 million worshippers prayed at the Grand Mosque, including 14.8 million who performed the Umrah pilgrimage, a ritual of circumambulation and prayer that can be undertaken year-round.

 In Madinah’s Prophet’s Mosque, the total attendance reached over 25 million, with nearly 1.3 million praying in the Rawdah Al-Sharifah, the sacred area near the Prophet Muhammad’s tomb, and around 2.6 million offering greetings at key historic sites within the mosque complex.

Officials attributed the remarkable turnout to improved visitor services, digital facilitation measures, expanded capacity, and coordinated crowd management systems, which are part of ongoing efforts under Saudi Vision 2030 to enhance pilgrim experience and safety. Observers say the growth in visitation also reflects increased global mobility and easier access for international pilgrims following post-pandemic travel normalization.

 The tally for Rajab traditionally a quieter month compared with Hajj or Ramadan signals rising demand for spiritual travel and underscores the kingdom’s continuing role as the destination for Muslims worldwide seeking worship and reflection.