Statistics on prayer times and mosques in Al-Hilal: 1.8 million visitors midway through Ramadan
The Royal Commission for Makkah and the Holy Sites has released updated operational data for the Miqat (designated places for entering the state of Ihram) and the mosques within the Haram boundary up to the middle of Ramadan. The Commission reported receiving approximately 1,855,775 visitors arriving in 291,094 vehicles. These figures reflect a comprehensive operational and monitoring system designed to ensure the smooth flow of services provided to pilgrims and Umrah performers from around the world.
Details of visitor and vehicle movement
Official data revealed a significant diversity in the means of access to the Miqat points and mosques within the Haram boundary , reflecting the high volume of traffic during the holy month. The incoming vehicles were distributed as follows: 19,186 large vehicles, 89,027 medium-sized vehicles, and 180,776 small vehicles. The Al-Sayl Al-Kabir Miqat topped the list, attracting the largest share of visitors with 554,813, followed by the Yalamlam Miqat with 392,042 visitors. The Al-Tan'im Mosque (one of the most prominent mosques within the Haram boundary) received 372,110 visitors. The Al-Juhfah Miqat recorded 201,005 visitors, the Wadi Muharram Miqat 185,516 visitors, and the Al-Ja'ranah Mosque 150,289 visitors.
The religious and geographical significance of prayer times
These statistics gain their significance from the profound religious importance of these sites. The designated points for entering the state of ihram before entering Mecca to perform the rituals are known as the miqat, representing the first spiritual gateway to the Umrah pilgrimage. Mosques outside the Haram boundary, such as Al-Tan'im and Al-Ji'ranah, are the destinations for those wishing to enter ihram from within the boundaries of the Haram and are an integral part of Islamic history and the Prophet's noble biography. Maintaining the readiness of these sites is not merely an operational matter; it is a religious duty to serve the pilgrims and facilitate their rituals.
Field efforts to serve prayer times and mosques in the area
On the field monitoring side, specialized teams conducted 3,513 inspection tours of various locations, resulting in the identification of 7,667 observations that were addressed and resolved immediately. No security incidents were recorded during the same period, reflecting the stability of operational performance. The total workforce at the prayer times and mosques in the area approximately 800 personnel, working to provide field and organizational services commensurate with the daily traffic volume.
Strategic impact and vision objectives
These figures are a vital indicator of the success of the operational plans for the Ramadan season, with positive implications both locally and internationally. Locally, this smooth flow contributes to easing traffic congestion at the entrances to the Holy City and enhancing the quality of life for visitors and residents. Regionally and internationally, the Kingdom's ability to efficiently manage these millions of pilgrims at the initial assembly points confirms the readiness of its infrastructure to accommodate the increasing numbers of Umrah pilgrims, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to facilitate the hosting of visitors to the Two Holy Mosques and provide them with the best possible services.
For his part, the CEO of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites, Engineer Saleh Al-Rasheed, confirmed that the recorded figures reflect the high level of operational readiness and the regularity of field work, coinciding with the increasing number of arrivals during the holy month.
