Kamal Ghorui
A sharp rise in Umrah arrivals has pushed Saudi authorities to scale up coordination, with a new operations room set up to respond in real time and improve the overall pilgrim experience. Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, announced the launch of a special operations room designed to address challenges faced by pilgrims arriving from abroad and to streamline services during their stay. The initiative has been developed in collaboration with the General Authority of Civil Aviation and other relevant agencies, signalling a coordinated approach across sectors to ensure both comfort and safety for pilgrims performing their rituals. Speaking at the opening session of the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum in Madinah, Al-Rabiah said the ministry and associated entities are fully prepared to adapt to regional changes and rising demand. He revealed that 18 million Umrah pilgrims arrived from outside the Kingdom this year, reflecting a growth of more than 214 percent compared to 2022 and 2025. He also credited the Kingdom’s leadership for its continued support in expanding and strengthening the Umrah sector. The minister pointed to measurable improvements in service quality, noting that pilgrim satisfaction levels have climbed to 94 percent by 2025. He also highlighted a significant increase in visits to Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah, with more than 15.6 million visitors recorded. Alongside this, there has been notable progress in the development of historical sites, contributing to a broader and more enriched pilgrimage experience. The third edition of the forum itself reflects the scale of growth in the sector. It has brought together more than 150 exhibitors and includes 50 workshops focused on enhancing services and innovation. Over 5,000 agreements are set to be signed, aimed at strengthening partnerships and improving the quality and efficiency of Umrah and visitation services across the board.
