RIYADH: Ramadan is a highly popular period to perform the Umrah pilgrimage, and travel agencies and tour operators are cashing in on the festive rush.
Flights from Riyadh to Jeddah are seeing increased demand and surging prices.
“There was an offer on Saudi Founding Day so some people got cheaper tickets, but with the beginning of Ramadan tickets went up,” said Mohammad Aslam Jameel, a travel company supervisor in Riyadh.
“If you are traveling now to Jeddah, the round-trip tickets will cost about SR1,700 ($453) to SR2,000.”
There are comparatively cheaper tickets for odd timings, but they, too, will total about SR1,500 now to SR 2,000 during Qiyam — the last 10 days of Ramadan — he added.
Umrah travel operators in Riyadh have almost doubled the price of the bus tour package to SR200 per person, Mohammed Iqbal, who recently booked an Umrah pilgrimage, told Arab News.
“The huge rush was due to the holy month of Ramadan since most of the people want to spend these days in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah,” he said.
An employee of Al-Fajr, a tour operator in the city, also added that the increased prices were due to surging demand.
Ticket prices for international flights, too, have soared on dates close to Eid Al-Fitr as many expatriates plan to travel back home.
Asif Ahmed, an Indian working in Riyadh and traveling home for the Eid celebration with his family, told Arab News: “When I had checked the price with the tour operator for the same period two months ago for a round trip, it was about SR2,000. Now the tickets prices for the round trip have soared to SR4,000.”
Syed Faiz Ahmad, a Pakistani expat working in Yanbu, told Arab News: “It’s my 28th year staying in Saudi Arabia. During my early years the cost of air tickets for travel to my native country during Eid was not much, but as the time has passed all airlines have started to raise the prices exorbitantly amid (the) festive rush.
“This has become economically challenging to travel home during holidays especially with family.”
Saudi Arabia’s religious tourism sector is experiencing remarkable growth, with data revealing a sharp rise in travel demand for 2024 and 2025.
Findings from travel booking platform Skyscanner highlight the increasing global interest in pilgrimage travel.
With early 2025 travel data already reflecting strong demand, the trend of growing religious tourism is expected to continue.
January 2025 saw a 21 percent year-on-year increase in flight searches to Saudi Arabia, with peak travel interest centered around March 2025 — coinciding with the start of Ramadan.
Findings for 2024 also revealed spikes around Ramadan (March–April) and Hajj (June).
Madinah has emerged as a key destination for travelers interested in pilgrimage, with searches for flights to Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport rising by 54 percent year-on-year.
Religious tourism remains a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, serving as a key pillar in the Kingdom’s economic transformation. Significant investments are being made to improve infrastructure, expand flight routes and enhance the pilgrim experience.
Key projects such as the Makkah Route Initiative for Hajj pilgrims and the Haramain High-Speed Railway are instrumental in these efforts.
Countering the trend of surging prices, the railway offered discounts on two-way travel between Makkah and Madinah during the first 20 days of Ramadan.
The railway has also increased Makkah-Madinah trips for the final 10 days of Ramadan to accommodate the surge in Umrah performers during Qiyam Al-Layl, with 130 additional daily trips added, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway, among the world’s fastest railways with a speed of 300 km per hour, also increased station gate capacity from eight to 24 and added two terminals.
Saudi Arabia sees surging prices for religious tourism amid Ramadan rush
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Saudi Arabia sees surging prices for religious tourism amid Ramadan rush
- Umrah package prices soar amid high demand for pilgrimage to holy cities
- Some international fares double amid festive rush of expatriates going home for Eid Al-Fitr
KSA cracks down on non-compliant Umrah transport
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority, in collaboration with relevant authorities, has apprehended several violators for transporting Umrah performers using non-compliant buses as part of a field control initiative it conducted.
The authority clarified that this campaign is part of its ongoing monitoring efforts to ensure that transport facilities comply with regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The initiative aims to enhance the safety and security of Umrah performers, and the authority has urged all establishments to adhere to the approved regulations.
It emphasized that these campaigns are designed to enhance compliance, elevate service quality, and ensure the safety of transport service users, SPA added.
Recently, the Transport General Authority fined over 400 foreign trucks in several regions of the Kingdom for regulatory offenses.
Historic Al-Safa Mosque in Baha restored in traditional Sarawat style
- The mosque, distinguished by its Sarawat-style construction, was renovated to preserve its historical integrity
RIYADH: Al-Safa Mosque, a 13th-century landmark in the Baha region, has been restored as part of a national project, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The second phase of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historic Mosques aims to revitalize Baha’s architectural heritage and highlight its cultural significance.
The mosque, distinguished by its Sarawat-style construction, was renovated to preserve its historical integrity while enhancing its structural and aesthetic elements.
The restoration in Baljurashi governorate prioritized the use of natural materials. Sarawat Mountain stone and locally sourced wood were used for the ceilings, columns, windows and doors, maintaining the structure’s authenticity.
The mosque’s footprint, at 78 sq. meters, and its capacity, accommodating 31 worshippers, was unchanged by the restoration.
Built about 1,350 years ago, Al-Safa Mosque is situated within a network of buildings and narrow passages typical of the region’s high mountain villages.
The structure is notable for its stone construction and limited openings. Distinctive juniper columns support the mosque, and the restoration includes preserving and redeveloping these columns, incorporating traditional staircase carvings.
Historical accounts suggest that the mosque was established by the Prophet’s companion Sufyan bin Auf Al-Ghamdi. Historically it served as a vital social hub, facilitating communal gatherings for resolving disputes and discussing village affairs, especially between Maghrib and Isha prayers.
It is one of 30 mosques in 13 regions in phase two of the project, which includes six in Riyadh, five in Makkah, four in Madinah, three in Asir, and two each in the Eastern Province, Jouf, and Jazan. The Northern Borders, Tabuk, Baha, Najran, Hail and Qassim each have one mosque in the scheme.
Phase two follows phase one, completed in 2018, in which 30 mosques were restored in 10 regions. Saudi companies and heritage restoration experts are leading the development efforts, according to the SPA.
The project balances traditional and modern construction standards, ensuring the sustainability of mosque components while preserving heritage.
Saudi companies and engineers specializing in heritage restoration are leading the development efforts, according to the report.
The project’s four strategic objectives include restoring historic mosques for worship, preserving architectural authenticity, highlighting the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, and enhancing the religious and cultural significance of religious sites.
KSrelief expands food aid across global crisis zones
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has delivered thousands of food packages to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
In Pakistan, 4,790 packages were distributed to families in need across Balochistan, Kashmir, and Punjab as a part of the Etaam Ramadan project, benefiting 32,631 individuals.
In Somalia, KSrelief distributed 1,550 packages to vulnerable families in Baidoa, benefiting 6,930 people.
Now in its fourth phase, the Etaam project aims to distribute more than 390,000 food parcels in 27 countries during Ramadan, benefiting 2.3 million people at a cost of more than SR67 million ($17.8 million).
Additionally, KSrelief provided 600 packages in Port Sudan, benefiting 3,057 impoverished and displaced people.
In Lebanon, the Saudi Arabia aid agency distributed 800 packages to needy families in Sidon, benefiting 4,000 individuals.
Saudi Arabia gears up for Saudi Green Initiative Day on March 27
Riyadh: As Saudi Arabia prepares to mark Saudi Green Initiative Day on March 27, the Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action.
The national event highlights Saudi Arabia’s efforts to combat climate change while fostering a culture of environmental responsibility, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In the lead-up to the occasion, the Saudi Green Initiative launched several interactive campaigns during Ramadan to encourage public participation in sustainable practices.
Social media users can still contribute by sharing their photos on the Saudi Green Initiative Day Photo Board, a show of the community’s dedication to eco-friendly initiatives.
The initiative’s mascot, Nomoor, continues to engage youth and children through the “30 Positive Steps to Protect the Environment” challenge, promoting sustainable habits across all age groups.
Three winners of the challenge will be announced on Saudi Green Initiative Day in recognition of their contributions.
With the submission deadline approaching, participants are encouraged to highlight their sustainable Ramadan practices and join the challenge.
Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Green Initiative Day underscores the Kingdom’s ambitious sustainability goals, calling for collective action in climate efforts and environmental awareness.
Saudi Arabia condemns new Israeli agency for displacing Palestinians from Gaza Strip
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejects Israeli violations of international and humanitarian laws in the Gaza Strip
- Israel’s new agency will be tasked with relocating Palestinians to unspecified third countries
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel’s recognition of illegal settlements in the Occupied West Bank and the establishment of an agency aimed at displacing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip on Monday.
The ministry said it categorically rejects Israeli violations of international and humanitarian laws in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
“(Saudi Arabia condemns) Israeli occupation authorities’ announcement of the establishment of an agency aimed at displacing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip,” the ministry said in a statement.
Israel said it is creating a government agency to oversee the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip following approval from the Israeli security cabinet over the weekend.
Since late 2023, at least 50,000 people have been killed during the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, and almost 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza are now internally displaced.
Israel’s new agency will be tasked with relocating Palestinians to unspecified third countries under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia also condemned the approval of 13 illegal settler outposts in the West Bank over the weekend. The Saudi ministry said that the decision was made “in preparation for their legalization as colonial settlements.”
It added that lasting peace can only be achieved if the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights and establish an independent state on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
