Saudi Arabia Achieves Major Milestone in Pilgrim Services Under Vision 2030
Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: Saudi Arabia received more than 19.5 million pilgrims from abroad in 2025, including 18.03 million Umrah pilgrims and 1.5 million Hajj pilgrims, marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance services for the Guests of God under Saudi Vision 2030.
The figures were released in the 2025 annual report of the Doyof Al-Rahman (Guests of God) Service Program, titled Honor and Impact, which highlighted major achievements in improving the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of services provided to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
According to the report, the number of Umrah pilgrims increased by 114 percent compared to 2022, reflecting the Kingdom’s continued expansion of pilgrimage services and infrastructure. Despite the sharp rise in pilgrim numbers, satisfaction levels remained exceptionally high, with 91 percent satisfaction among Hajj pilgrims and 94 percent among Umrah pilgrims, exceeding the targets set under Saudi Vision 2030.
The report also noted Saudi Arabia’s growing global tourism profile, with Makkah ranking fifth worldwide among cities receiving the highest number of international visitors, while Madinah secured seventh place globally in the tourism performance index, underscoring the Kingdom’s increasing appeal as a religious and cultural destination.
The Rawdah Al-Sharif at the Prophet’s Mosque welcomed more than 16 million visitors during 2025, while visitor satisfaction rose to 88 percent, a notable increase from 57 percent in 2022, highlighting the impact of ongoing efforts to improve services and facilitate the performance of religious rituals.
During the year, the Guests of God Service Program implemented 87 initiatives in collaboration with more than 60 partner entities, achieving a 100 percent implementation rate. The report said these initiatives contributed significantly to enhancing the pilgrims’ journey, from travel planning and arrival to the completion of rituals and their safe return home.
Saudi Arabia also expanded its religious and cultural tourism offerings by increasing the number of qualified historical sites and cultural destinations in Makkah and Madinah to 87, attracting more than 55 million visits and enriching pilgrims’ understanding of the Kingdom’s rich Islamic heritage.
The report highlighted the contribution of more than 184,000 male and female volunteers who participated in serving pilgrims throughout 2025, reflecting the Kingdom’s growing culture of volunteerism and its role in supporting high-quality pilgrimage services.
In the area of digital transformation, Saudi Arabia issued 15.03 million visas for Umrah, visits, and other purposes during the year, with Umrah visas accounting for 83 percent of the total. Pakistan, Indonesia, and Egypt were the leading countries receiving Umrah visas, demonstrating the Kingdom’s sustained efforts to facilitate pilgrimage procedures and improve the overall experience for millions of visitors from around the world.
The report reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advancing the objectives of Vision 2030 by continuously enhancing services, expanding infrastructure, and ensuring a seamless and spiritually enriching experience for all pilgrims visiting the Two Holy Mosques.
