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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
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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.

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Gulf

Saudi Foreign Minister, Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Sign General Cooperation Agreement

The two sides signed a general cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing cooperation and mutual understanding across various fields - SPA
The two sides signed a general cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing cooperation and mutual understanding across various fields - SPA
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Saudi Foreign Minister, Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Sign General Cooperation Agreement

The two sides signed a general cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing cooperation and mutual understanding across various fields - SPA
The two sides signed a general cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing cooperation and mutual understanding across various fields - SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met in Riyadh Monday Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Slovak Republic Robert Kaliňák.

They reviewed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in a manner that serves their mutual interests and discussed regional and international developments, SPA reported.

The two sides signed a general cooperation agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Slovak Republic, aimed at enhancing cooperation and mutual understanding across various fields.

Gulf

Khalid bin Salman Visits Saudi Interior Ministry Pavilion at World Defense Show

Prince Khalid was briefed on the ministry’s operational capabilities to enhance decision-making. SPA
Prince Khalid was briefed on the ministry’s operational capabilities to enhance decision-making. SPA
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Khalid bin Salman Visits Saudi Interior Ministry Pavilion at World Defense Show

Prince Khalid was briefed on the ministry’s operational capabilities to enhance decision-making. SPA
Prince Khalid was briefed on the ministry’s operational capabilities to enhance decision-making. SPA

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz visited the Ministry of Interior's pavilion at the World Defense Show, held in Riyadh.

Prince Khalid was briefed on the ministry’s operational capabilities to enhance decision-making, command and control, and predictive intelligence, all aimed at protecting residents across the Kingdom.

During his tour, he explored how the ministry is advancing proactive security and efficient emergency management through innovative technical solutions.

The tour also underscored the role of the unified security operations centers (911) in the national response system and the ministry's commitment to international partnerships in security and smart systems.

Gulf

OIC Condemns Israeli Cabinet's Legalization of Settlements

Israeli soldier points his weapon towards the camera, during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli soldier points his weapon towards the camera, during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. (Reuters)
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OIC Condemns Israeli Cabinet's Legalization of Settlements

Israeli soldier points his weapon towards the camera, during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli soldier points his weapon towards the camera, during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. (Reuters)

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned on Monday the Israeli cabinet’s approval of measures that aim to deepen Israeli control over the occupied West Bank and weaken the already limited powers of the Palestinian Authority.

The OIC said Israel’s “colonial settlement policy constitutes a war crime and a flagrant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, foremost among which is Security Council Resolution 2334 and the legal opinion issued by the International Court of Justice.”

It renewed its call on the international community, particularly the Security Council, “to shoulder its responsibilities and take immediate action to put an end to all crimes and violations committed by Israel against the Palestinian people, their land, and their holy sites.”

The office of Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a statement announced the decisions that would make it easier for Jewish settlers to force Palestinians to give up land, adding that “we will continue to bury the idea of a Palestinian state.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a statement called the decision “dangerous” and an “open Israeli attempt to legalize settlement expansion” and land confiscation. He called for the United States and UN Security Council to intervene immediately.

The decision was announced a few days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington about Iran and other matters.

The measures announced Sunday include canceling a prohibition on sales of West Bank land to Israeli Jews, declassifying West Bank land registry records to ease land acquisition, transferring construction planning at religious and other sensitive sites in the volatile city of Hebron to Israeli authorities, and allowing Israeli enforcement of environmental and archaeological matters in Palestinian-administered areas.

The measures also would revive a committee that would allow the state of Israel to make “proactive” land purchases in the territory — “a step intended to guarantee land reserves for settlement for generations to come.”