The Mataf area—the white marble, open-air space surrounding the Kaaba—has been reserved exclusively for Umrah pilgrims throughout the day to ensure safety during rituals.
Saudi Arabia has set a new record for the number of Umrah pilgrims in a single day.
The Haramain reported that 904,000 pilgrims performed Umrah on Saturday, February 21, corresponding to the 4th of Ramadan, 1447 AH, surpassing all previous records.
Last year, a previous record was set on March 7, when 500,000 pilgrims performed Umrah—the highest number recorded at that time.
During Ramadan, as the Grand Mosque experiences an increase in worshippers, Saudi authorities typically enhance security measures to ensure safety and manage crowd control.
The Mataf area—the white marble, open-air space directly surrounding the Kaaba—has been reserved exclusively for Umrah pilgrims throughout the day to ensure the safe performance of rituals.
As prayer spaces fill rapidly, particularly on Fridays and during Maghrib, Isha, Tarawih, and Tahajjud prayers in the last ten days of Ramadan, worshippers are instructed to proceed to available courtyards and designated areas as directed.
Movement through mosque entrances must follow directional signage, and congregating in walkways, roads, or courtyards is prohibited.
To manage crowds and congestion around the Grand Mosque, authorities have implemented traffic control measures and pedestrian-only routes in the central area. Vehicles are barred from designated pedestrian routes for extended periods around prayer times, while unauthorised motorcycles and bicycles are banned. Vehicles parked in ways that compromise pedestrian safety are subject to towing and traffic fines.
Transportation for worshippers is organized via public buses from King Abdulaziz International Airport and from 14 designated parking areas, including nine within the holy city and five on roads leading to it. Those unable to access the Grand Mosque or its external courtyards during peak periods are directed to nearby mosques and equipped prayer halls.
