GASTAT Reveals Total Number of Umrah Performers and Pilgrims in 2022

Pilgrims perform the final tawaf, marking the end of the Hajj. (SPA)
Pilgrims perform the final tawaf, marking the end of the Hajj. (SPA)
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GASTAT Reveals Total Number of Umrah Performers and Pilgrims in 2022

Pilgrims perform the final tawaf, marking the end of the Hajj. (SPA)
Pilgrims perform the final tawaf, marking the end of the Hajj. (SPA)

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) issued today two reports on Umrah and Hajj for the year 2022/1443 Hijri.

Umrah data showed that the total number of Umrah performers in 2022 reached 24,715,307, from which the number of Umrah performers who performed Umrah once was 9,517,829.

According to the Umrah report, the total number of external Umrah performers reached 8,372,429. The number of male Umrah performers was 3,700,785, which accounted for 44.20%, while the number of female Umrah performers reached 4,671,644, accounting for 55.80%.

The result showed that the total number of internal Umrah performers reached 16,342,878, of whom Saudis accounted for 6,642,881 or 40.65%, and non-Saudis accounted for 9,699,997 or 59.35%.

The result also showed that the number of internal male Umrah performers reached 11,033,994, accounting for 67.52%, while the percentage of females reached 32.48%.

According to the same report, the highest number of Umrah performers was in April, in which the number of internal Umrah performers reached 5,479,637.

Makkah Region recorded the highest number of internal Umrah performers, which reached 10,270,637.

Hajj data showed that the total number of internal and external pilgrims reached 926,062 pilgrims in 2022, SPA reported. The percentage of external pilgrims reached 84.4% of the total pilgrims, with 781,409 pilgrims, who came through various ports, while the percentage of internal pilgrims reached 15.6% with 144,653 pilgrims.

According to the Hajj report, the number of internal male pilgrims reached 77,776 pilgrims, while the number of internal female pilgrims reached 66,877. The number of external male pilgrims reached 421,999, while the number of external female pilgrims reached 359,410.

The result showed that pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia via air transport reached 94.7% of the total number of pilgrims, while land transport constituted 4.5%, and sea transport recorded the lowest percentage by 0.8%.

The result also indicated that the number of labor force participating in serving pilgrims exceeded 236,000 male and female employees. The number of labor force in the general services sector was 73,556, in the medical services sector 26,392, and in the transportation services sector 19,421, while the total labor force in the communications sector reached 3,728 workers.

GASTAT issues Hajj and Umrah statistics annually based on administrative records in government and private entities concerned with serving Umrah performers and pilgrims. These records include data for Hajj permits for internal and external pilgrims. The data is provided according to a unified form that includes data on manpower and medical services according to temporal and spatial reference.



Saudi Arabia, UK Announce 2029 as Saudi-UK Year of Culture

Saudi Arabia, UK Announce 2029 as Saudi-UK Year of Culture
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Saudi Arabia, UK Announce 2029 as Saudi-UK Year of Culture

Saudi Arabia, UK Announce 2029 as Saudi-UK Year of Culture

The Saudi Ministry of Culture and the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport have announced the year 2029 as the official Saudi-UK Year of Culture, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday. The announcement follows an official visit by Britain’s Prince William to Saudi Arabia this week.

For nearly a century, formal relations between Saudi Arabia and the UK and Northern Ireland have evolved into a multifaceted international relationship that has expanded across culture, education, and innovation, reflecting shared values and a mutual commitment to long-term cooperation.

In recent years, cultural exchange has emerged as a cornerstone of Saudi-British relations, driven by joint initiatives in heritage conservation, visual and culinary arts, architecture, and higher education.

This ongoing expansion of cultural exchange lays the foundation for the Saudi-UK Year of Culture 2029, a year-long program celebrating creative dialogue and the shared heritage of Saudi Arabia and the UK, while deepening cultural ties for generations to come. It will also be a great opportunity for young people in both countries to connect in new ways.

Supported by Saudi Vision 2030 and the United Kingdom’s continued promotion of cultural innovation and creativity, the Saudi-UK Year of Culture 2029 will be an important milestone for both countries.


Prince William Visits Historic, Natural Sites in AlUla Accompanied by Saudi Culture Minister

The visit reflects the depth of Saudi-British relations and their growing cooperation in culture, arts, environmental sustainability, and human capability development. (SPA)
The visit reflects the depth of Saudi-British relations and their growing cooperation in culture, arts, environmental sustainability, and human capability development. (SPA)
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Prince William Visits Historic, Natural Sites in AlUla Accompanied by Saudi Culture Minister

The visit reflects the depth of Saudi-British relations and their growing cooperation in culture, arts, environmental sustainability, and human capability development. (SPA)
The visit reflects the depth of Saudi-British relations and their growing cooperation in culture, arts, environmental sustainability, and human capability development. (SPA)

Britain’s Prince William visited a number of historic, natural, and cultural sites in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla, accompanied by Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

The visit reflects the depth of Saudi-British relations and their growing cooperation in culture, arts, environmental sustainability, and human capability development, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

During his tour, Prince William reviewed a number of environmental initiatives at Sharaan Nature Reserve, including ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation efforts. He was briefed on programs to rehabilitate natural habitats, restore ecological balance, and reintroduce species such as the Arabian oryx and mountain ibex, contributing to long-term goals for the recovery of the Arabian leopard in its natural environment.

He received an overview of the history of AlUla Old Town and the Incense Road, and the role of culture and arts as a bridge for cultural exchange between the two countries. The visit included viewing artworks at AlUla Arts Festival 2026.

Prince William met with Saudi youths participating in joint cultural programs and initiatives between the two countries. The visit also featured a tour of AlUla Oasis Cultural District.

The visit highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership between the Royal Commission for AlUla and British cultural institutions within an organized framework of cooperation encompassing cultural, educational, and environmental entities, supporting balanced and sustainable development in AlUla and reinforcing its status as a global destination for heritage, culture, and nature.


Workshop Held to Develop Cultural Heritage Documentation, Digital Archiving Guide in Saudi Arabia

The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners. SPA
The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners. SPA
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Workshop Held to Develop Cultural Heritage Documentation, Digital Archiving Guide in Saudi Arabia

The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners. SPA
The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners. SPA

The Saudi Ministry of Culture organized a specialized workshop to review and develop the third edition of the Cultural Heritage Documentation and Digital Archiving Guide in the Kingdom.

The workshop brought together representatives from relevant cultural entities, along with stakeholders, experts, and practitioners, as part of the center’s efforts to standardize methodologies for documenting and archiving cultural heritage and to enhance institutional practices for managing national cultural memory.

The workshop forms part of the Ministry of Culture’s ongoing efforts to establish national standard frameworks for the management and digital documentation of cultural heritage, strengthen integration among entities, and equip practitioners with the necessary tools and methodologies.

These efforts reinforce the role of the Saudi cultural memory center in preserving the Kingdom’s cultural memory and support the objectives of the National Culture Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030.