GASTAT: Number of Umrah Performers Increases by 35% in Q3 2024

Muslims pray as they perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia - File Photo/SPA Handout via REUTERS
Muslims pray as they perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia - File Photo/SPA Handout via REUTERS
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GASTAT: Number of Umrah Performers Increases by 35% in Q3 2024

Muslims pray as they perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia - File Photo/SPA Handout via REUTERS
Muslims pray as they perform Umrah at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia - File Photo/SPA Handout via REUTERS

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced on Sunday the results of the Umrah Statistics Report for the third quarter (Q3) of 2024.

The report revealed that the total number of Umrah performers reached 6,254,751 in Q3 2024, representing a 35% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Male performers accounted for 57.4%, while females constituted 42.6% of the total. Saudi nationals made up 10.7% of all Umrah performers during the quarter.
The report indicated that the total number of external Umrah performers stood at 3,348,512, reflecting a 29.2% increase compared to Q3 2023. Among them, males accounted for 51% (1,707,514), and females made up 49.0% (1,638,743).
For internal Umrah performers, the total reached 2,906,239 in Q3 2024, marking a 42.4% increase compared to Q3 2023. Of this group, Saudi nationals totaled 671,729 (23.1%), while non-Saudis accounted for 2,234,510 (76.9%). Male internal Umrah performers totaled 1,883,199 (64.8%), while females accounted for 1,023,040 (35.2%), SPA reported.
The report highlighted that among external Umrah performers, the highest proportion (17.6%) were aged 35–44, while the lowest proportion (9.2%) were over 65 years old. Similarly, the largest group among internal performers was aged 30–39 (29.2%).
A total of 2,295,747 internal Umrah performers completed the Umrah rituals once during the quarter, with males representing 64% and females 36%. August recorded the highest number of single-time Umrah performers from within the Kingdom, accounting for 40.1% of the total.
The report also provided details on visa types for external performers in Q3 2024. Among them, 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.



Saudi Arabia Sends First Aid Shipment of an Airlift to Syria

The plane carried food, shelter, and medical supplies. SPA
The plane carried food, shelter, and medical supplies. SPA
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Saudi Arabia Sends First Aid Shipment of an Airlift to Syria

The plane carried food, shelter, and medical supplies. SPA
The plane carried food, shelter, and medical supplies. SPA

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) on Wednesday dispatched the first of several aid shipments to Syria. Departing from King Khalid International Airport, the plane carries food, shelter, and medical supplies destined for Damascus International Airport.
Advisor to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the KSrelief Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah told the Saudi Press Agency that the "airlift will be followed by a land bridge in the coming days."
He emphasized that these efforts demonstrate the Kingdom’s commitment to humanitarian support under its longstanding tradition of aiding friendly nations worldwide. He highlighted the Kingdom's ongoing assistance since the Syrian crisis began in 2011 and Saudi Arabia’s significant role in international humanitarian aid.
Through the KSrelief, Saudi Arabia has consistently provided support to internally displaced Syrians and those in neighboring countries, as well as to victims of the northern Syrian earthquake in February 2023. From 2011 to the end of 2024, the Kingdom's total aid provided by Saudi Arabia to Syria amounted to $856,891,000.