Makkah ranks 5th, Madinah 7th among world’s top cities for international visitors in 2025

RIYADH —The year 2025 witnessed the arrival of more than 19.5 million pilgrims in Saudi Arabia from abroad, including 18.03 million Umrah pilgrims and 1.5 million Hajj pilgrims. This represents a 114 percent increase in the number of Umrah pilgrims compared to 2022.Saudi Arabia also achieved notable positions in international rankings, with Makkah placing fifth globally among the cities receiving the highest number of international visitors, while Madinah ranked seventh worldwide in the tourism performance index.This was revealed in the annual report for 2025 published by the Doyof Al-Rahman (Guests of God) Service Program, one of the programs established to achieve Saudi Vision 2030. Titled “Honor and Impact,” the report highlighted that this milestone reflects the system’s readiness and the efficiency of the services provided. Despite the continued rise in pilgrim numbers, satisfaction levels remained exceptionally high. Hajj satisfaction reached 91 percent, while Umrah satisfaction stood at 94 percent, surpassing the Saudi Vision 2030 targets for both indicators. The annual report outlined the Guests of God Service Program’s key achievements, as well as the outcomes of its initiatives and projects aimed at continuously enhancing the services provided to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors. These efforts have significantly improved the quality of their journey, enriching their experience from the planning stage through to their safe return to their home countries. The Rawdah Al-Sharif at the Prophet's Mosque welcomed more than 16 million visitors during 2025, with visitor satisfaction rising to 88 percent, compared with 57 percent in 2022. This underscores the impact of ongoing efforts to enhance services and facilitate the performance of rituals in accordance with the highest standards of quality and efficiency. The report also stated that the program implemented 87 initiatives in 2025 in partnership with more than 60 implementing entities, achieving a 100 percent compliance rate in initiative execution. This reflects the Kingdom’s enduring commitment to serving pilgrims and advancing the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in enhancing services for pilgrims. In addition, the report noted that the number of qualified historical sites and cultural destinations in Makkah and Madinah increased to 87, attracting more than 55 million visits. This milestone has enriched the pilgrims’ experience while strengthening their connection to the Kingdom’s rich Islamic historical heritage. The report further highlighted the participation of more than 184,000 male and female volunteers in serving pilgrims during 2025, demonstrating the growing culture of volunteerism among the Kingdom’s citizens and its vital role in enhancing the quality of services. Furthermore, as part of ongoing efforts to advance digital services, the report revealed that a total of 15.03 million visas were issued for Umrah, visits, and other purposes during the year, with Umrah visas accounting for 83 percent of the total. Pakistan, Indonesia, and Egypt topped the list of countries receiving the highest number of Umrah visas, reflecting the Kingdom’s integrated efforts to facilitate the journey of pilgrims and further enhance their overall experience.