Saudi Arabia is seriously stepping up its travel game, and it’s all about making the journey for Umrah pilgrims smoother and more accessible than ever

At the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum in Madinah, Majid Khan, CEO of the Air Connectivity Program, announced a bold new goal: 2.5 million airline seats dedicated to Umrah and visitor traffic by the end of 2025.

With over 700,000 seats already booked through Q1 2025, the momentum is real

The focus? Boosting direct global routes to key pilgrimage cities like Jeddah and Madinah, and opening the door wider to spiritual travelers from all corners of the world.

New air routes are already making waves—Germany’s Stuttgart joins Berlin and Cologne with direct flights to Jeddah, while France’s Transavia will soon connect Paris and Lyon to the Kingdom.

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Meanwhile, starting this August, daily flights from London’s Gatwick to Madinah are expected to add a whopping 180,000 seats

All of this is part of a broader effort to enhance the pilgrimage experience, tied to the National Tourism Strategy. This week’s forum—hosted at the King Salman International Convention Center—brought together 150+ exhibitors and 100+ speakers, tackling topics from AI in hospitality to Madinah’s cultural legacy.