Including services statistics provided by more than 40 entities to pilgrims GASTAT Launches the “Statistical Calendar” for 1439H Hajj Season GASTAT has  Launched the “Statistical Calendar” for 1439H Hajj Season, on Sunday,   the first of Dhu al-Hijjah -1439 , through GASTAT’S official www.stats.gov.sa, which shows the publishing dates of services statistics provided by government entities in Saudi Arabia to pilgrims, in addition to the statistics of domestic and foreign  pilgrims. GASTAT official spokesman, Mr. Taiseer Almofarrej, explained  that the statistical calendar with its content, from statistics and numbers, aims to show the efforts made to pilgrims from more than 40 public and private entities. Moreover, on the second day of the current month of Dhu al-Hijjah, the statistics of services provided to pilgrims such as, supervision, public, health, transportation, and communication as well as information technology services will be announced through statistical calendar and on GASTAT’S official website. Then, the number of domestic and foreign pilgrims will be published every six hours, from the seventh day of Dhu al-Hijjah,  until the total number of domestic and foreign pilgrims is announced that will be on the evening of Arfa, the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah, if Allah willing. Furthermore, Mr. Almofarrej added that GASTAT will issue the detailed bulletin of Hajj statistics the morning of Eied day (10 Dhul Al-Hijja  1439H). Moreover, the spokesperson of GASTAT revealed that  the statistical calendar includes services statistics provided to pilgrims from the following governmental entities: Holy Makkah Province Principality, AL-Madinah Principality, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Ministry of Commerce and Investment, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Social Development, Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Da'wah and Guidance, Ministry of Media, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, General Authority for Statistics, General Customs Authority, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture,  Communication and Information Technology Communication,  Saudi Commission for Investigation and Prosecution in Makkah Province, Makkah  Region Development Authority, Saudi Red Crescent Authority, General Security, General Directorate of Passports, The General Directorate of Saudi Civil Defense, The National Information Center, the General Presidency of Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque Affairs, Civil Defense in Makkah Province, Holy Makkah Municipality, Jeddah Municipality, Electricity Company of Makkah, Makkah and Taif Business Units at the National Water Company, The Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research, the High Commission for Controlling Pilgrims’ Transportation, Saudi Post, Saudi Arabia Boy Scouts Association, Saudi Arabia Airlines , King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah ,  Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport , Jeddah Islamic Port, Mobile and Internet Operators as well as  many entities involved in providing services to pilgrims.    It is worth mentioning that the services statistics provided by the public and private entities will be available through the GASTAT’S official website on the dates set, according to the statistical calendar dates in open sources to support research, studies and media centers to benefit from and publish them.

With integration and coordination between GASTAT and the road security special forces Makkah Receives Pilgrims with "Security" and " Statistics" The General Authority for Statistics and the Road Security Special Forces in Makkah region clarified that all entry ports in Makkah are ready to receive pilgrims starting from the first hours of the first day of Thu-Alhijja, 1439 H. They added, great efforts have been made both financially and physically to facilitate the pilgrims' entry process. " Statistics" and " Road Security Special Forces" asked all pilgrims to provide their data accurately and clearly once they reach Makkah official entry ports.   This was discussed during the coordinative meeting which was held on Saturday Thu-alqida 29, 1439H in the services center in Alshimaisi Alsare'a between GASTAT leaders and the Road Security Force in Makkah region. The attendants of the meeting included GASTAT president, Dr. Fahad bin Sulaiman Altekhaifi and the operation division director in the Road Security Force in Makkah region Colonel Faisal bin Saad Alju'aid, who confirmed that all security entities are highly prepared for implementing the Hajj instructions in all roads and entry ports to make the entry process quick and easy, especially in the rush days which are usually the seventh and eighth days of the Thu-alhijja. All vehicles will be received by the road security special forces to make sure they have Hajj license. Then the General Authority for Statistics begin the task of pilgrims enumeration in the main centers surrounding Makkah: (Makkah/ Jeddah highway) center, ( Makkah/ Jeddah old way) center, Tane'em center, Sharae'a center, the South center, and the supportive centers in Medina and Taif.  On his part, GASTAT deputy of operations, methodologies and supervisor of the Hajj statistics program, Mr. Fahd Al-Fuhaid, said that the cooperation and integration with the Special Forces had started early this year. The meeting came today to review the joint goal between the two sides which is serving pilgrims and facilitating their entry to the city of Makkah during these days with all the data required to implement the program of Hajj statistics. He added that the process of collecting information is conducted electronically in a way that does not exceed 30 seconds maximum to ensure the speed of vehicles entry, as the statistical researcher enter data of each car carrying pilgrims coming from inside Saudi Arabia, including: type of car, number of pilgrims distributed by gender and nationality. Then he registers data in an electronic form using tablets. The entered data are referred to the time and date of vehicle entry and coordinates of the data collection location. Then they add the data of pilgrims coming from outside Saudi Arabia that are taken from the Directory of Passports.  It is worth mentioning that in addition to the road security forces and the relevant security entities, there are some other entities participating in the implementation of security tasks at the entrances leading to Makkah such as the Hajj Security Command for Traffic Affairs, the General Directorate of Passports, the General Directorate of Prisons, and Security Aviation. All offices and branches of the road security special forces also participate in the mission of Hajj each in his specialty to control the fake Hajj campaigns in accordance with a comprehensive security system to implement the early legal procedures on all roads leading to Makkah. However, the General Authority for Statistics in coordination with all these entities counts and enumerates the numbers of pilgrims, as their work lasts until they announce the total number of pilgrims  on the ninth of Thu al-Hijja.

GASTAT continues its preparations for the 1439H Hajj statistics Dr. Fahad Altekhaifi: Saudi Arabia is the Heart of the Islamic World, and Serving Pilgrims is an Honor The president of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced that the authority is still preparing for the Hajj statistics program for this year 1439H. these preparations aim at providing detailed and accurate statistics, data, and information about the numbers of pilgrims coming from inside and outside Saudi Arabia.  These works will be done through seven main centers in Makkah, and three supportive centers in Medina, Jeddah, and Taif.  Dr. Fahad bin Sulaiman Altekhaifi said that GASTAT with all its financial and humanitarian  potentials, along with many governmental entities, is implementing the directions of the custodian of the two holly mosques and his crown prince- may God protect them-  to provide all pilgrims with the services they need in order to make them feel comfortable, as Saudi Arabia is honored to serve them and facilitate their Hajj steps every year.  Saudi Arabia represents the heart of the Islamic world, and serving pilgrims is an honor. Therefore, all Saudi public and private entities are competing to provide whatever they can do to make the Hajj season a successful one. He added, we, the people of Saudi Arabia, recognize what does it mean to be the only country that organizes a very important Islamic pillar.  Dr. Altekhaifi clarified that GASTAT is implementing the Hajj statistics through three main tracks; the first one concerns pilgrims coming from inside Saudi Arabia (from all Saudi regions to Makkah). In this track, GASTAT uses the comprehensive enumeration method, which counts all arrivals who come to Makkah for the purpose of Hajj. It is conducted through all Hajj statistics main centers located in Makkah entry ports. The president indicated that all main centers are located in the entry ports of Makkah and surrounds it from all sides, except for the one located in the center of Makkah. GASTAT employees are found, along with the concerned entities of the ministry of interior, in (Makkah/ Jeddah highway) center, which is the biggest and most important center, as it represents the main way taken by pilgrims who come from Jeddah city. They are also found in (the old way between Makkah and Jeddah) center, Tan'em center, Shara'ea center, Alkar center, and the south center. However, GASTAT can be also found in some supportive Hajj statistics centers which are located in Medina, Jeddah, and Taif, especially in the domestic pilgrims' parking, airports, public transport stations, and the Meeqat spots. The second track is for pilgrims coming from outside Saudi Arabia (pilgrims who come from outside Saudi Arabia to Makkah through all air, land, and sea ports. To count those pilgrims, GASTAT depends on the pilgrims data received from the concerned entities, distributed by gender, nationality, date of arrival, and way of arrival. However, the third track concerns pilgrims coming from Makkah. GASTAT estimates the numbers of those pilgrims depending on the periodical field surveys conducted by GASTAT among a sample of households from Makkah in order to determine the percentage of pilgrims who come from Makkah.    As for the mechanism of pilgrims' numbers enumeration, Dr. Fahad Altekhaifi stated that GASTAT staff will be present in the Hajj statistics centers located in Makkah entry ports, so that they can count all arrivals who come for the purpose of Hajj. The works will begin on the first day of Thu Alhijja, 1439H. the staff will register the data of every car that carries pilgrims coming from inside Saudi Arabia. The data will be registered on an electronic form by using tablets. They include the car type, number of pilgrims distributed by gender and nationality. The data have a time reference which is the time and date of entry, and a spatial reference which is the coordinates of the data collection location. After that, the information will be transferred to the entry centers' databases through transferring systems. Then a synchronization of data is made between the tablets and the centers' databases. Finally, data are transferred to the main database in Makkah, where data are processed, and daily reports and Hajj statistics bulletins are written. It is worth mentioning that the task of pilgrims' enumeration has been done by GASTAT since 1390 H. this task aims at providing accurate information that helps all governmental entities in planning and developing the pilgrims services. This task is still performed by GASTAT with many improvements in the methods of enumeration to make them more accurate and comprehensive.

GASTAT conducts annual enumeration for pilgrims Saudi Arabia was pleased to serve 54 million pilgrims during the last 25 years   According to GASTAT’s official statistics, the total number of pilgrims who were served by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the last twenty-five years reached (53.928.358) pilgrims. The lowest number of pilgrims was registered in the Hajj season of 1415 H where the number of pilgrims reached (1.781.370). On the other hand, the highest number of pilgrims was registered in 1433 H where the number of pilgrims reached (3.161.573) pilgrims. Additionally, during the last ten years the number of pilgrims reached (23.834.151) pilgrims. GASTAT spokesman, Taiseer Almofarrej said that counting the numbers of pilgrims each year is one of the important tasks performed by GASTAT. This task has started since 1390 H in order to provide accurate information that would help all governmental entities to plan and develop the services provided to pilgrims. However, the task has been performed for many years, with a lot of developments in the methods of counting and enumeration so that they can be applied in an accurate, comprehensive, and professional way.   Mr. Almofarrej added that the Hajj statistics program aims to complete all programs of future plans for the purpose of providing the necessary services for the pilgrims, whether social, health, security, food or transportation services. It is done by using a time series of accurate data on the numbers of pilgrims, the estimates of manpower needed to serve the pilgrims and to maintain their safety and comfort during the Hajj season of each year. The data and numbers of pilgrims are used by the entities concerned with the study of the preparations and the main facilities in Makkah and the holy places and taken into account when preparing the necessary plans. In addition, it provides accurate information and data about hajj statistics for researchers, students, beneficiaries and those interested in this field. Furthermore, the data on the number of pilgrims is used in the evaluation of the activities and events conducted by the entities concerned with serving the pilgrims, as well as to identify ways of arrival of the domestic pilgrims and the pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom. The official spokesman of the General Authority for Statistics revealed that the statistics of the services provided by government agencies to pilgrims will be announced periodically from the first of Dhu al-Hijjah. Furthermore, the Authority will release the final and official number of pilgrims on the evening of 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, through the Hajj statistics bulletin in details which includes: number of pilgrims inside, number of pilgrims outside, number of pilgrims by sex, nationality and destination, number of vehicles transporting pilgrims as well as types, and other detailed data. It is worth mentioning that during the previous 25 years, the number of pilgrims exceeded three million pilgrims once, while exceeding more than two million pilgrims twelve times. On the other hand, it fell from two million pilgrims during twelve seasons, and the lowest was recorded in 1415, according to the following table. Numbers of pilgrims during the past 25 years S Year Total number of pilgrims 1 1414H 1.834.780 2 1415H 1.781.370 3 1416H 1.865.234 4 1417H 1.942.851 5 1418H 1.832.114 6 1419H 1.831.998 7 1420H 1.839.154 8 1421H 1.913.263 9 1422H 1.944.760 10 1423H 2.041.129 11 1424H 2.012.074 12 1425H 2.164.469 13 1426H 2.258.050 14 1427H 2.378.636 15 1428H 2,454,325 16 1429H 2,408,849 17 1430H 2,313,278 18 1431H 2,789,399 19 1432H 2,927,717 20 1433H 3,161,573 21 1434H 1,980,249 22 1435H 2,085,238 23 1436H 1,952,817 24 1437H 1,862,909