Madinah Sees Record Visitor Turnout in 2026

Religious and cultural sites in Madinah recorded exceptionally high visitor turnout during August 2026, with the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran registering a historic daily high of 10,558 visitors on 30 Safar 1448 AH (16 August 2026), underscoring the strong demand seen across the city this year.

The surge builds on sustained crowds at Madinah's core religious locations earlier in 2026. During Rajab 1447 AH, the Prophet's Mosque received 25,074,929 worshippers, while 1,293,867 worshippers prayed in the Rawdah Sharifah and 2,590,857 visitors came to greet the Prophet and his two companions.

Demand climbed further during Ramadan. In the first 20 days of Ramadan 1447 AH, Masjid an-Nabawi welcomed 21,143,259 worshippers for prayers and Qiyam, 579,191 visitors entered Ar-Rawdah Ash-Sharifah, and 1,715,928 visitors came specifically to greet the Prophet at his resting place.

How to plan a visit

Permits for Umrah, entry to Masjid an-Nabawi, and access to the Rawdah are issued through the official electronic services of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah via registered individual accounts. Permits specify date and time slots and are verified digitally at mosque entrances.

Umrah permits and entry to the Prophet's Mosque, the Rawdah, and greeting the Prophet's grave are free of charge in SAR; visitors only pay for services such as transport, accommodation, and private tours. Crowd management and attendance figures are overseen by the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque together with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

Beyond worship, Madinah's heritage is drawing growing interest. Across 2025–2026, 87 qualified historical and cultural sites in Makkah and Madinah recorded more than 55 million visits, with Madinah's Islamic heritage locations and museums contributing significantly. Typical cultural-site tickets in Madinah in 2026 start from around SAR 35.

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