The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has reported a significant increase in Umrah performers during the third quarter of 2024. The total number reached 6,254,751, marking a 35% rise compared to the same period last year. Males comprised 57.4% of the performers, while females accounted for 42.6%. Saudi nationals represented 10.7% of the total Umrah performers during this quarter.
Numbers of Umrah Performers
The number of external Umrah performers rose to 3,348,512 in Q3 2024, showing a 29.2% increase from Q3 2023. Among these, males constituted 51%, and females made up 49%. The age group 35–44 years had the highest proportion of external performers at 17.6%, while those over 65 years old represented the lowest proportion at 9.2%.
Internal Umrah performers totaled 2,906,239 in Q3 2024, reflecting a 42.4% increase compared to Q3 2023. Saudi nationals accounted for 23.1% of this group, with non-Saudis making up 76.9%. Males represented 64.8% of internal performers, and females accounted for 35.2%. The largest age group among internal performers was 30–39 years, comprising 29.2% of the total.
Frequency of Umrah Performance
A total of 2,295,747 internal performers completed the Umrah rituals once during the quarter. Males represented 64% of these single-time performers, while females accounted for 36%. August recorded the highest number of single-time Umrah performers from within the Kingdom, accounting for 40.1% of the total.
Regarding visa types for external performers in Q3 2024, 60.8% arrived with Umrah visas, 29.7% with other types of visas, 6.6% with electronic visit visas, and 2.9% with Gulf visas.
This substantial increase in Umrah performers aligns with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to facilitate religious tourism and enhance services for pilgrims. The Kingdom continues to implement measures aimed at accommodating the growing number of visitors undertaking the Umrah pilgrimage.
