The average Umrah trip takes 117 minutes... figures reflecting the development of services at the Holy Mosque
The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques revealed key figures and indicators reflecting the significant development in crowd management systems. Field tests conducted during the month of Jumada al-Thani 1447 AH showed that the average time spent performing all Umrah rituals was only 117 minutes. These results are a direct outcome of well-structured operational plans designed to facilitate the pilgrim's journey from arrival at the courtyards until completion of the rituals.
Details of the pilgrim's journey in numbers
Detailed data revealed that the vast majority of pilgrims, reaching 94%, were able to perform the circumambulation (Tawaf) ritual in the Mataf area, reflecting the success of the crowd management plans in the central area surrounding the Holy Kaaba. The average circumambulation time was approximately 46 minutes, indicating a high degree of smooth flow despite the large numbers.
Regarding the Sa'i ritual, statistics recorded an average time of 51 minutes, with 64% of pilgrims preferring to perform it on the ground floor. Furthermore, spatial connectivity indicators demonstrated high efficiency, with the time to move from the outer courtyards to the Mataf (circumambulation area) not exceeding 10 minutes, and the same for the move from the Mataf to the Sa'i area, confirming the effectiveness of the engineering and operational design of the pathways.
Development context and the objectives of Vision 2030
These figures cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of the efforts undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to serve the pilgrims. These record-breaking timeframes are a direct result of the Third Saudi Expansion Project and the development of the Grand Mosque's infrastructure, which were primarily aimed at accommodating the steady increase in the number of Umrah pilgrims, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals of hosting 30 million Umrah pilgrims annually.
Technology and crowd management
The reduction in average travel time to less than two hours reflects the success of employing modern technologies and artificial intelligence in crowd management. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques and supporting security agencies rely on advanced monitoring systems to analyze traffic flows and guide worshippers and pilgrims to less crowded levels and routes in real time, thus contributing to reducing bottlenecks and distributing crowds more evenly across the different levels of the Grand Mosque.
Impact on the pilgrim's experience
Reducing the time required for movement and performing rituals not only means faster completion but also positively impacts the spiritual and physical well-being of pilgrims. Ease of movement reduces physical strain, allowing visitors to focus more on devotion and supplication, and ensuring the rituals are performed with peace and ease – the ultimate goal pursued by all entities working in the Two Holy Mosques.
