Record-Breaking 13.5 Million Muslims Participate in Umrah Pilgrimage to Mecca in 2023
Saudi Arabia has reported that over 13.5 million Muslims undertook the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca in 2023, marking a record-breaking year for Islam’s holiest city and representing a 58% increase in international pilgrims compared to 2022.
The announcement was delivered by the kingdom’s Hajj and Umrah minister, Dr. Tawfiq al-Rabiah, at the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference. He highlighted that an additional 5 million pilgrims visited Mecca this year to perform the ritual.
“I am pleased to share some good and unprecedented news. The highest number of pilgrims arriving from outside the kingdom in 2019 was 8.5 million. This year [2023], and in light of the facilities introduced by the kingdom’s leadership, the number rose to 13,550,000 million Umrah pilgrims,” al-Rabiah stated at the conference.
Al-Rabiah added that the Saudi government has invested over $1.3 billion in developing and enhancing the infrastructure of the country’s holy sites. He mentioned specific projects, including the addition of 150,000 new air-conditioning units to facilitate pilgrims in completing the ritual and the construction of 14,000 new bathrooms and bathing areas.
Organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Guests of God Service Program, the conference runs from January 8 to 11 at the Jeddah Superdome. As part of Saudi Vision 2030, a government-led economic development policy program, the three-day event provides attendees with an opportunity to discuss potential strategies to stimulate growth in the kingdom’s holy cities and sites.
Similar to the Hajj, the Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. However, it differs in that it can be undertaken throughout the year, rather than on specific dates as required for the Hajj. Unlike the Hajj, the Umrah is not mandatory in all Muslim denominations, though it is still recommended.
