Saudi Records 15.2m Umrah Pilgrims in Three Months
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
Saudi Arabia recorded more than 15.2 million Umrah performers between January and March 2026, underscoring the scale of religious tourism in the Kingdom and the sustained demand for visits to Islam’s two holiest cities.
Data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) showed that 15,233,767 pilgrims performed Umrah during the first quarter of 2026.
The three-month statistical period covered January 1 to March 31, 2026, meaning the figures reflect the first quarter of the calendar year rather than the current 1448 AH Umrah season.
Of the total, about 9.5 million were domestic pilgrims, while 5.77 million were international visitors. The pilgrims comprised 56.4 per cent men and 40.6 per cent women, according to the statistics.
International pilgrims overwhelmingly travelled by air, with 86 per cent arriving through airports, equivalent to approximately 4.96 million people.
Another 13.6 per cent, or about 784,000 pilgrims, entered through land crossings, while approximately 23,000 arrived by sea, representing 0.4 per cent.
Saudi Records 15.2m Umrah Pilgrims in Three Months
The quarterly milestone captures a major wave of Umrah travel during the winter and early spring months. While some operational estimates suggest March recorded the highest monthly traffic, with January, February and March collectively accounting for the 15.23 million total.
The latest statistics come as Saudi Arabia maintains strict timelines for the 2026–2027 Umrah season.
Under the official calendar, the final date for issuing Umrah visas is March 9, 2027. Pilgrims must enter Saudi Arabia by March 23, 2027, while April 7, 2027, is the final date for their departure.
The deadlines place greater pressure on international pilgrims, travel agencies and tour operators to complete visa processing and travel arrangements within the prescribed window.
The 15.2 million quarterly figures further demonstrate the enormous scale of Saudi Arabia’s Umrah programme and the operational demands facing the Kingdom as it continues to expand and regulate religious tourism.
