MAKKAH: More than 96.6 million worshippers and visitors have attended prayers and religious rituals at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah during the first 20 days of Ramadan, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoting figures released by the Saudi authorities.
The General Authority for the Care and Management of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque reported that a total of 96,638,865 people visited the two sacred mosques since the start of the holy month, highlighting the immense spiritual draw of the sites during Ramadan.
Data released by the authority shows that the Grand Mosque in Makkah received the largest share of worshippers, with 57,595,401 people performing the five daily prayers and Qiyam prayers between the first and twentieth day of Ramadan.
During the same period, 15,605,086 pilgrims performed Umrah at the Grand Mosque. These figures were calculated through operational monitoring systems that track the movement and entry of visitors into prayer areas and designated Umrah zones within the mosque complex.
Meanwhile, the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah welcomed 21,143,259 worshippers who attended the five daily prayers and special night prayers during Ramadan.
The authority also recorded 579,191 worshippers praying in Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah, a revered area inside the Prophet’s Mosque regarded as one of the most spiritually significant places in Islam.
Additionally, 1,715,928 visitors offered greetings to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his two companions, a practice deeply valued by pilgrims visiting Madinah.
Officials said the large number of visitors reflects the high level of operational readiness and coordination among service authorities overseeing the two mosques.
Extensive preparations, crowd management systems, and enhanced services have been implemented to ensure smooth movement and safety for worshippers.
The authority added that the figures demonstrate the strong turnout of pilgrims and visitors during Ramadan, when millions travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia seeking spiritual fulfillment and the blessings associated with worship at Islam’s two holiest sites.
As Ramadan progresses, authorities expect even larger crowds during the final ten nights, traditionally considered the most spiritually significant period of the holy month.
