Over 18.5 Million Muslims Performed Pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia Last Year
Tawfik Al Rabiah, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, made the announcement during a speech at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in the UK. He highlighted several initiatives aimed at improving services for pilgrims, including digital platforms designed to streamline their journeys.
Among these initiatives is the Electronic Track system, developed in cooperation with over 80 countries, and the Nusuk platform, operational in 126 nations. The latter allows pilgrims to organize their trips without relying on third-party services. The platform also assists with logistical arrangements, such as securing accommodations for those visiting Mecca for Umrah or Medina, which houses Islam’s second holiest site.
Another measure introduced is the use of smart cards containing pilgrims' personal and health details, intended to ease their mobility and enhance safety.
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Al Rabiah also mentioned the application of artificial intelligence within the Grand Mosque in Mecca—Islam’s most sacred site—to monitor crowd movements and address emergencies efficiently while maintaining the site’s sanctity.
The Nusuk app, offering over 100 digital services in 20 languages, has reportedly facilitated more than 13 million permits for visits to Al Rawda Al Sharifa in Medina—where the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is located—up from 4 million in 2022. Many pilgrims traveling for Umrah in the Grand Mosque later proceed to Medina to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque.
Umrah rituals include Tawaf—circling the Kaaba seven times—and Sa’i, walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah within the Grand Mosque.
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As Saudi Arabia prepares for the upcoming Hajj season, the Ministry of Hajj has set April 29—the first day of the Islamic month of Dhul Qadah—as the deadline for foreign Umrah pilgrims to depart the country.
The annual Hajj pilgrimage for 2025 is expected to take place in early June, with the exact dates contingent on the sighting of the moon for the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah. Saudi authorities typically confirm the Hajj schedule closer to the event, as Islamic lunar months are approximately 10-12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, causing the pilgrimage to shift earlier each year. In 2024, Hajj occurred in mid-June, and next year’s rituals are projected to begin around June 6, 2025, lasting five days.
Source: Agencies
