122M Muslims Make History at Two Holy Mosques This Ramadan

Islam’s holiest mosques drew a historic 122 million faithful visitors during Ramadan 2025. The Grand Mosque in Mecca saw about 92.1 million worshippers. The Prophet’s Mosque in Medina welcomed 30.1 million visitors during this sacred month. This is a big deal as it means that the Grand Mosque’s attendance went well beyond its usual yearly count of 20 million visitors outside Ramadan. On top of that, 16.5 million Muslims completed their Umrah during this period, which shows the incredible scale of worship at these sacred sites. The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque used modern technology to track these historic numbers and monitor the record-breaking attendance with precision.

Saudi Officials Announce Record-Breaking 122M Visitors to Holy Mosques

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Saudi officials from the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque have released detailed numbers showing a remarkable turnout at Islam’s holiest sites. Eng. Ghazi Al-Shahrani, CEO of the authority, says visitors to both sacred mosques reached exactly 122,286,712. This is a big deal as it means that the numbers are much higher than usual yearly averages.

Technology Tracks Record Numbers

Saudi authorities use advanced tech systems to count and manage these massive crowds. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque installed high-tech sensor readers at the Grand Mosque’s main entrances. These sensors give up-to-the-minute information about crowd movement and density throughout the holy sites.

This state-of-the-art monitoring system helps officials track visitor flow with amazing accuracy. This improves how they run things and manage crowds better. The tech works together with other authorities to make sure everything runs smoothly for visitors.

The monitoring systems are part of a bigger tech plan that has:

• Live crowd flow analysis
• Smart resource placement based on visitor numbers
• Better teamwork between agencies
• Quick response teams for safety and comfort

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) helps other government groups by offering advanced digital services to pilgrims. One cool innovation is the ‘Basir’ platform that uses AI to watch and study how people move inside the huge mosque complexes. This helps track crowds, spot movement problems, and find lost people.

Grand Mosque Welcomes 92.1 Million Faithful

The Grand Mosque in Makkah, Islam’s holiest site, had an amazing 92.1 million worshippers during Ramadan. This number stands out even more when you compare it to the usual 20 million visitors outside Ramadan months. The holy month brought in four times more people than a typical year.

Officials counted exactly 75,573,928 Muslims who came to pray at the Grand Mosque. The site also welcomed 16,558,241 pilgrims who did Umrah during this sacred month. Numbers hit their peak on Ramadan’s 26th night, with more than 4 million worshippers, including about 800,000 pilgrims. That night set a new daily record.

Ramadan always brings more faithful to Makkah. But 2025’s numbers show both more Muslims traveling globally and bigger capacity at the holy sites after recent expansions. Ramadan, which started March 1 this year, is the busiest time for Umrah at the Grand Mosque.

Prophet’s Mosque Receives 30.1 Million Worshippers

The Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah—Islam’s second holiest site—welcomed 30.1 million visitors during Ramadan. Many of these Muslims came after finishing their Umrah in Makkah. After Umrah, pilgrims often take a trip to Madinah to pray in the Prophet’s Mosque and visit the city’s Islamic sites.

Just the first half of Ramadan brought more than 14 million worshippers to the Prophet’s Mosque. Madinah’s authorities used all their resources to welcome people and create a perfect space for worship during this special month.

The total numbers at both holy mosques show Ramadan’s spiritual importance and Saudi Arabia’s growing ability to host more faithful. Here’s how the 122 million total breaks down:

1. Grand Mosque in Makkah: 92.1 million total visitors
   • Regular worshippers: 75,573,928
   • Umrah performers: 16,558,241
2. Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah: 30,154,543 total visitors

These exact numbers show how well the tech systems work at the holy sites. Officials can now count visitors, study movement patterns, predict busy spots, and place resources where needed.

Saudi Arabia keeps developing better AI algorithms and uses drones to make crowd control even smoother. This helps keep pilgrims and visitors safe and comfortable at the Two Holy Mosques.

Lt. Gen. Al-Bassami talked about crowd management at a recent summit. He said the Kingdom has built up huge experience over decades in handling big crowds. AI tech has really helped control crowd movement and keep the right number of people in different areas around the Holy Mosques.

Authorities Deploy Advanced Crowd Management Systems

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The Two Holy Mosques’ success in handling record-breaking crowds stems from a network of state-of-the-art systems built to meet the unique demands of managing millions of worshippers in sacred spaces.

AI-Powered Monitoring Prevents Congestion

Public Security, under the Ministry of Interior, rolled out the Baseer platform during Ramadan through collaboration with the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA). This smart system takes a closer look at visitor movement inside the mosque complex. Baseer’s computer vision technology watches live conditions and counts up to 30,000 visitors at once in the Mataf (circumambulation) area.

Baseer does more than just count people. The system analyzes over 1 million worshippers’ movements each day to manage crowds better and stop bottlenecks before they happen. The platform spots people moving against the flow that might slow down pilgrims. This feature proved crucial during peak times, especially on Ramadan’s 26th night when the Grand Mosque welcomed over 4 million worshippers.

The system’s high-capacity processors study vast amounts of video data to spot behaviors and handle large crowds. This helped find lost people among millions of worshippers, a common problem in packed spaces.

Public Security’s Director, Lieutenant General Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Bassami, highlighted how authorities used AI and live surveillance through the Command-and-Control Center to tackle issues throughout the holy month. This hands-on approach helped prevent crowd-related incidents that often worry organizers of mass religious events.

Live Analytics Guide Operational Decisions

A modern command center gives officials a bird’s eye view of both mosques’ operations. Smart sensors at key entrances track pilgrim numbers as they happen, which helps coordinate precise crowd control with relevant authorities.

Advanced cameras capture entry movements live and show potential crowd buildup spots right away. This two-system approach has changed how crowds move within the mosques, particularly in busy areas like the Tawaf and Sa’i routes.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque brought in smart reader sensors to watch Umrah performers entering the Grand Mosque. These sensors analyze data live and help adjust crowd flow quickly for a safer experience.

The system helps leaders make quick, smart decisions about crowd management by looking at both current and past data. This proved valuable as crowds moved smoothly during busy times, with no dangerous bottlenecks at entries and exits.

During Ramadan’s last ten nights—the busiest time—authorities put a special plan in place. They built on what worked before and fixed any issues to keep paths clear. They opened the Al-Shamiyah corridor near the Third Expansion to reduce southern plaza crowds and guided people through the Beni Sheba Bridge to western areas like Ibrahim Al-Khalil Street or Jabal Al-Ka’bah after Umrah.

Digital Maps Direct Pilgrims Through Sacred Spaces

The Holy Mosques’ big spaces challenged millions of visitors. More than 200 digital panels now help people find their way around. These work with special GPS systems and smart maps to guide pilgrims efficiently.

Smart maps make it easy to find:

• Religious ritual spots and main landmarks
• The Mataf area around the Holy Kaaba
• The Sa’ay area between Safa and Marwa
• The General Authority’s facilities

The Grand Mosque now has about 200 QR codes that help pilgrims check their location and pick where to go using their phones. These smart maps speak many languages, including Arabic, English, French, Urdu, Indonesian, Turkish, and others.

The Prophet’s Mosque now offers groundbreaking digital maps that show available prayer spaces live. Visitors can scan QR codes at entries with the Nusuk app to check how crowded 12 different areas are. Each area shows different colors based on how full it is, which helps send people to less crowded spots.

The Nusuk app comes with new features to make visits more meaningful. It includes awareness cards, smart maps, event calendars, and a complete guide in many languages. The app works with 25 government groups and 10 private partners as part of Saudi Arabia’s digital push.

These breakthroughs show Saudi Arabia’s push to bring state-of-the-art data and AI into pilgrimages. They match the Pilgrim Experience Program’s goals under Saudi Vision 2030, showing the government’s dedication to making Two Holy Mosques’ visits safer and more comfortable.

16.5 Million Muslims Perform Umrah During Sacred Month

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The Grand Mosque welcomed 16.5 million Muslims who completed their Umrah during the sacred month of Ramadan. This number makes up a big part of the 92.1 million total visitors to Makkah’s holy site that month. Muslims from Saudi Arabia and beyond came in huge numbers to worship and perform Umrah while officials worked hard to manage everything smoothly.

Millions Process Through Modern Registration System

Saudi Arabia’s advanced registration systems handled this record number of Umrah performers with ease. The Nusuk platform became the go-to place for pilgrims who wanted to perform the ritual. Muslims worldwide could get their permits and book packages online through this digital service. The platform played a key role in achieving these record-breaking numbers.

Saudi authorities made several improvements to make registration easier:

1. They extended Umrah visas from 30 to 90 days
2. Pilgrims could enter through any port and leave from any airport
3. Saudi citizens could now invite their friends from abroad to visit and perform Umrah
4. Women pilgrims no longer needed male guardians

The electronic system connected Hajj and Umrah visas with housing, transport, and food services. Pilgrims could see all available services from their home countries. Officials kept track of these services and held people accountable for any problems or rule-breaking.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah moved everything to one electronic system, which made the whole process smoother from start to finish. This change helped make arrivals, departures, and stays in the Kingdom more efficient.

Record Numbers Fill Tawaf Area

Ramadan saw huge crowds in the Mataf (circumambulation area) around the Holy Kaaba. Recent expansions helped the area handle 107,000 pilgrims every hour. This was a huge jump from its old capacity of 28,000-40,000 people per hour.

The Grand Mosque broke records when it hosted more than 4 million worshippers on Ramadan’s 26th day, with about 800,000 people performing Umrah. Even the expanded facilities were tested by these numbers.

Special plans helped manage the crowds in the Mataf area. The Tawaf area’s cold marble floors stay cool no matter how hot it gets outside. This smart design helped millions perform their rituals comfortably day and night.

The Mataf used to be a 95-meter diameter circle. After several upgrades, which included removing obstacles and relocating various structures, the space grew much larger. Saudi leaders kept improving the area by adding premium marble and launching special expansion projects.

The third Saudi expansion project pushed the Mataf’s capacity from thirty thousand to 107,000 pilgrims per hour. The area now has 428 escalators, 28 elevators, and 1,300 speakers. Cool air systems that can produce 90,000 tons of cooling help pilgrims stay comfortable despite the crowds.

Zamzam Water Reaches More People Than Ever

Ramadan saw record amounts of Zamzam water being shared. Officials put 20,000 Zamzam water containers throughout the Grand Mosque. This helped pilgrims get the blessed water easily while performing their rituals.

The Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah provided 300 tons of Zamzam water each day during Ramadan. This big operation included:

• 18,000 containers inside, on top of, and around the Prophet’s Mosque
• 60 special Zamzam water carts for elderly and disabled visitors
• Over 100 backpack containers for hard-to-reach areas
• Daily Zamzam water transport from Makkah to Madinah

The General Presidency’s Suqya Department managed everything with 600 trained staff members. They gave out single-use Zamzam bottles in the Rawdah Sharifah and water bottles in the courtyards.

Officials created rules for using Zamzam water. They asked visitors to throw away plastic cups properly and not open water containers to keep things clean. They also stressed that Zamzam water should only be used for drinking.

Pilgrims leaving could now easily take Zamzam water home thanks to new rules. They could buy bottles at airport shops, use special conveyor belts, and take one bottle each with their Umrah visa or Nusuk app permit.

26th Night of Ramadan Witnesses Historic 4 Million Attendance

The Grand Mosque in Makkah made history on the 26th night of Ramadan when 4.2 million worshippers gathered there. This number set a new record for single-day attendance, even higher than typical Hajj gatherings. Many Muslims consider this night to be Laylat Al-Qadr, one of the most sacred nights in Islam.

Laylat al-Qadr Draws Massive Crowds

Muslims from every corner of the world came to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah on Ramadan’s 27th night. They performed both Taraweeh and Tahajjud prayers. People hoped to receive blessings during Laylat Al-Qadr (The Night of Power), which the Quran describes as “better than a thousand months”. No one knows its exact date, but many believe it falls on Ramadan’s 27th night. Muslims look for this blessed night during the odd-numbered nights of Ramadan’s final ten days.

Numbers from the 26th day show 703,000 people at Fajr prayer, 614,300 at Dhuhr prayer, 643,900 at Asr prayer, and 740,100 worshippers each at Maghreb and Isha prayers. About 3.4 million people attended the five daily prayers, while 800,000 more performed various rituals throughout the day.

Saudi authorities put solid plans in place to handle this huge gathering. They prepared the Mataf (Area of Circumambulation) to hold 107,000 pilgrims every hour, which helped people move smoothly inside the Grand Mosque. Their careful planning paid off as the massive crowds moved through sacred spaces without major problems.

Officials set up several amenities to help worshippers:

• 428 escalators and 28 elevators for easy movement
• Modern audio systems with 1,300 speakers
• Cooling systems capable of producing 90,000 tons of cooling

Emergency Response Teams Handle Peak Capacity

Health authorities added extra medical services across the sacred sites due to the record attendance. Medical centers popped up inside the Grand Mosque and its courtyards as the Makkah region Health Affairs Department wanted to help pilgrims quickly. These centers stayed open 24/7 and treated thousands during the holy month.

The Saudi Red Crescent Authority helped over 8,000 emergency cases since Ramadan began. Their teams answered 26,385 calls and sent ambulances 8,411 times. They treated 2,177 patients right where they found them, while 2,489 needed hospital care after first aid. Most cases involved medical emergencies, accidents, and people fainting.

Saudi Arabia added two new air ambulance helipads at the Holy Mosque in Makkah to improve emergency response. This helped move critical patients quickly to specialized hospitals across the Kingdom. Air ambulances flew round the clock, reaching some hospitals in minutes.

More than 400 Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts helped manage crowds inside the Grand Mosque. They worked with the General Authority for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, the Makkah Health Cluster, and Public Security. These scouts guided lost people, directed pilgrims, managed crowds, and helped reduce congestion in busy areas.

People could reach emergency services through the 997 hotline or the ‘Asefne’ mobile app. The app showed locations, allowed distress calls, and listed nearby health facilities. Civil Defense Rapid Response Teams worked non-stop during Ramadan to keep Umrah performers safe.

This huge gathering on the 26th night showed both Laylat Al-Qadr’s deep spiritual meaning and Saudi authorities’ skill at managing record crowds at Islam’s holiest site.

Saudi Arabia Mobilizes Massive Workforce to Serve Pilgrims

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Saudi Arabia deployed thousands of workers who formed the core team serving millions of faithful at the Two Holy Mosques during Ramadan. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques put 12,000 qualified employees to work at the Grand Mosque. These workers helped pilgrims throughout the sacred month.

57,000 Electric Carts Transport Elderly and Disabled

The Grand Mosque saw a record 57,000 worshippers using electric cart transportation on the 27th night of Ramadan alone. More than 522,000 worshippers used various transportation services in the first 15 days of the holy month. The authority doubled its electric golf cart fleet to 400 vehicles. These carts were placed at key spots like Bab al-Salam, Al-Shabika Bridge, and Ajyad.

The Presidency made access easier for elderly and disabled visitors with 10,000 vehicles running non-stop. They also assigned 251 golf carts just for circumambulation (tawaf) and sa’i rituals. These carts operated around the clock from strategic spots near the Ajyad escalator, King Abdulaziz Gate elevators, and other key locations.

Transportation options included standard electric golf carts, premium paid carts, and free manual carts in marked areas. This detailed transportation system proved crucial for elderly people, those with disabilities, and worshippers who needed help moving during busy times.

Cleaning Crews Work Around the Clock

The Grand Mosque’s cleanliness was in the hands of 4,000 workers who disinfected the premises ten times each day. A team of 350 Saudi supervisors led this massive cleaning operation. The workers did more than basic cleaning – they prepared entrances, managed escalator access, and guided worshippers through the complex.

The cleaning teams could cover the entire mosque in just 35 minutes. During the first 21 days of Ramadan, they removed 4,529 tons of waste. The mosque stayed spotless despite millions visiting daily.

4.9 Million Iftar Meals Distributed Daily

The General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques launched its biggest meal distribution program yet. They gave out over 4.9 million iftar meals to worshippers at both holy mosques in just the first week. The numbers grew to 17,020,216 iftar meals served in the first 21 days of Ramadan.

The authorities also handed out 17,190,000 packets of dates. Worshippers received their food in special iftar areas at both mosques under strict health guidelines. The meal distribution saw a big increase from previous years as pilgrim numbers grew.

Before Ramadan, authorities created an online service where people, charitable organizations, and endowments could ask to organize iftar meals inside the Grand Mosque. This digital system helped more people participate while keeping quality standards high.

Saudi Arabia’s service to pilgrims went beyond these offerings. They provided healthcare facilities, childcare centers, luggage storage, and special prayer spaces for elderly and disabled worshippers. This all-encompassing approach helped them host record numbers of faithful.

Engineers Transform Holy Sites to Accommodate Millions

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Record-breaking crowds gathered at Islam’s holiest sites thanks to remarkable engineering achievements. Technical breakthroughs helped millions of worshippers perform their rituals safely and comfortably. The Grand Mosque’s third Saudi expansion has led to unprecedented numbers during Ramadan 2025.

Expansion Projects Pay Dividends

The third Saudi expansion project transformed the Grand Mosque’s size from 414,000 square meters to an impressive 1.564 million square meters. The prayer area nearly doubled from 390,000 to 912,000 square meters. Visitor facilities grew significantly – restrooms increased from 3,515 to 16,726 while ablution facilities grew from 2,479 to 12,639. The smart design allows future growth through extra prayer floors and corridors.

Climate Control Systems Maintain Comfort

Rising temperatures during Ramadan highlighted the importance of advanced climate control systems. The Grand Mosque uses the world’s largest cooling system that can handle 155,000 tons. Two major cooling stations power this system: Shamiya station sits 900 meters from the mosque and produces 120,000 tons, while Ajyad station, 500 meters away, adds 35,000 tons.

The mosque’s air goes through nine purification cycles daily. Fresh air passes through advanced filters that catch dust particles and contaminants. UV sanitization then removes harmful microorganisms. Water chilled to 4-5 degrees Celsius flows through pipes to mechanical air handling units. Heat exchange happens here before clean air reaches prayer areas.

Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Meets Enormous Demand

The National Water Company delivered impressive results by supplying 39.4 million cubic meters to both holy mosques. Makkah received 21.2 million cubic meters, and Madinah used 18.2 million cubic meters. Storage reserves reached over 5.1 million cubic meters.

Quality remained a top priority throughout the sacred month. Teams conducted 49,900 water quality tests – 27,000 in Makkah and 22,900 in Madinah. This careful testing ensured all water met strict health standards as both holy mosques received water supply around the clock.

Saudi Arabia successfully managed 122 million visitors at the Two Holy Mosques during Ramadan 2025, which shows evidence of careful planning and technological progress. The country used advanced AI systems and sophisticated crowd management tools. Its expanded infrastructure played a significant role in accommodating these unprecedented numbers of faithful visitors. The 26th night brought a historic gathering of 4.2 million worshippers that tested operational limits. However, 12,000 qualified workers ensured everything ran smoothly throughout the sacred month.

The authorities handled 16.5 million Umrah performers with remarkable efficiency through optimized registration systems and improved facilities. Smart technologies changed the pilgrimage experience completely. These included up-to-the-minute crowd monitoring and digital navigation tools. Saudi Arabia’s steadfast dedication to improvement showed through expanded prayer areas, sophisticated climate control systems, and strong water infrastructure.

These accomplishments highlight the Kingdom’s commitment to serving Islam’s holiest sites. They also set new standards for managing mass religious gatherings. The perfect blend of traditional reverence with modern capabilities will give future Muslim generations continued profound spiritual connections at these sacred locations.