Saudi Arabia’s Madinah sees 18.7%...

Report says Holy City attracted 18 million tourists in 2024

The number of visitors heading to the Holy City of Madinah in Saudi Arabia increased 18.7% in 2024, according to a new report from the Madinah Chamber of Commerce.

The city saw 18 million visitors in 2024, compared to 14.1 million in 2023 and 8.2 million in 2022, attracted by its 400 religious, historical and cultural landmarks.

Rich in history and culture, Madinah’s historic sites include the Quba Mosque, the oldest mosque in Islamic history, and Mount Uhud, the site of the famous Battle of Uhud.

Those numbers are likely to increase in 2025, given early data from travel intelligence firm Mabrian, which highlights record-breaking air connectivity and growing international demand.

More than 151.6 million airline seats were booked for Hajj 2025, between 1-9 June, marking a rise of 1.2 million seats compared to 2024 and a 3% year-on-year increase.

To cater to increasing demand, Saudi has plans for 320,000 additional hotel rooms, with an estimated 221,000 of those located in the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Recent openings include Madinah debuts for Rotana, Radisson and the Four Seasons, collectively adding 923 keys, as well as two Golden Tulip hotels.

Radisson Hotel Madinah is billed as an upscale property designed to meet the needs of pilgrims visiting the city for Umrah, as well as business and leisure travellers.

Radisson Hotel Madinah

Hilton is set to more than quadruple its presence in the kingdom with more than 70 hotels under development, including the first Waldorf Astoria in Madinah.

Looking to the future, two mega projects in Medinah will facilitate the roll-out of even more hotels and cultural attractions.

Islamic World District (IWD) will feature a museum, cultural centre and plaza dedicated to showcasing Islamic cultures from around the world. IHG will bring 1,057 rooms to IWD in 2029, Marriott will open 1,200 rooms across three of its brands, and two Park Inn by Radisson hotels will add 733 rooms and serviced apartments.

Hilton is opening three hotels (1,600 keys) at Rua Al Madinah, another mega project located next to the Prophet’s Mosque that is also set to welcome the Four Seasons, eight Marriott properties and five Accor hotels including The Ritz-Carlton, Swissotel and Novotel.

For more information, visit unescwa.org/madina-chamber

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