Over 6.8 million pilgrims and passengers travelled through Saudi airports during peak Umrah season

Dubai: More than 6.8 million passengers and Umrah pilgrims passed through four major Saudi airports during the peak Umrah season of this year, according to Matarat Holding Company, which oversees the operations of the Kingdom’s airports.

During the peak Umrah season — from the first day of Ramadan through the seventh day of Shawwal — Saudi airports experienced a sharp increase in both international and domestic passenger traffic. 

The majority of the traffic was handled by King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, which served as the main gateway for pilgrims and recorded over 5.3 million passengers. 

Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina followed, processing more than 1.1 million travelers. Combined, Prince Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Airport in Yanbu and Taif International Airport accommodated over 212,000 passengers.

International travel dominated the period, accounting for more than 4.6 million arrivals and departures. Domestic flights carried an additional 2.1 million passengers, with total flight movements surpassing 40,000—over 25,000 of them international and more than 14,000 domestic.

Matarat Holding Company stated it worked closely with relevant authorities to ensure seamless passenger flow during the peak period. Measures included the deployment of additional field teams, enhanced operational support, and upgraded passenger services at terminal facilities.

The company, which supervises the operation of 27 airports across the Kingdom through its subsidiaries—Riyadh Airports, Jeddah Airports, Dammam Airports, and Cluster 2 Airports—is a key player in Saudi Arabia’s aviation transformation.