A report issued by the Saudi Statistics Authority revealed that the total number of pilgrims during the year 2024 amounted to 35.8 million pilgrims, distributed throughout the year, where the first quarter recorded the highest turnout, while the third quarter was the least, and the report also showed a gradual increase in the use of electronic visa and an increase in the percentage of Gulf pilgrims. The second quarter: 10,521,465 million pilgrims, the third quarter: 6,270,868 million pilgrims, the fourth quarter: 7,435,625 million pilgrims. According to the report, March recorded the highest number of pilgrims during the year, and 2,192,585 pilgrims and the blessed month of Ramadan coincided with the month of April, followed by October with 2,019,451 pilgrims. He also pointed to an increase in the percentage of Gulf people and the use of an electronic visa, as the percentage of Gulf pilgrims ranged between 2% in the first quarter and 2.9% in the third quarter, indicating a gradual increase in their numbers. While the electronic visa witnessed a clear growth, as its use rate increased from 6.8% in the first quarter to 12% in the fourth quarter, which reflects the Kingdom’s efforts to facilitate the procedures for entering pilgrims from abroad. In comparison to the separate performance, it was found that the first quarter was the most crowded with pilgrims, while the third quarter witnessed a remarkable decrease, especially from pilgrims entering, compared to the rest of the periods. The forbidden and pilgrims on the night of 22 and 23 Ramadan 2025 amounted to 3.1 million pilgrims, and reached its climax in the evening prayer and Tarawih, and witnessed almost stopping the circumambulation around the Kaaba from the severity of the crowd.
