Saudi Arabia: 18 million people visited Medina in 2024

Cairo: The number of visitors last year to the Saudi holy city of Medina, home to Islam’s second holiest mosque, reached 18 million visitors, according to a local official.

The average period of stay in the city rose from two days in 2019 to more than 10 days at present, Secretary of the Medina Region Development Authority Fahd Al Balehshi said at a conference on the annual Hajj pilgrimage held this week in the port city of Jeddah.

He added that about 50% of projects in Medina are funded by the government.

More than 200 archaeological and historical sites in the city are planned for renovation, according to the official.

“We are currently working on developing 100 of them,” Balehshi said.

Some 14.1 million people visited Medina in 2023, a 6 million increase compared to 2022. Visitor spending during that period exceeded SR49.7 billion, the Medina Region Development Authority said last year.

This growth is attributed to the city’s projects, initiatives, and improved services, including accommodation, hospitality, transportation, and healthcare.

To support visitors, the Authority launched a multilingual smartphone platform earlier this year. The Medina Platform serves as a guide to the city’s landmarks, souqs, traditional crafts, and local cuisine, enhancing the overall experience for pilgrims and tourists.

After performing the Umrah or minor pilgrimage at the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site, in Mecca, many pilgrims would flock to Medina to offer prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque and visit other Islamic places in the city.

The Prophet’s Mosque houses Al Rawda Al Sharifa, where the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is located.