Wednesday 03 / June / 2026
Muscat: The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) has issued a statistical report on pilgrims from the Sultanate of Oman for 1447 AH / 2026, highlighting key indicators related to the number of pilgrims, their demographic and geographic characteristics, and mean of transport used.
The report indicated that the total number of pilgrims from the Sultanate of Oman reached approximately 14,000 during the 2026, with a pilgrim rate of 3.6 pilgrims per thousand residents aged 18 years and above.
The report noted that males constituted 51 percent of the total pilgrims, numbering 6,885, compared to 6,599 female pilgrims, representing 49 percent. Omani nationals accounted for 97 percent of the total pilgrims, compared to 3 percent for expatriates.
The data showed that the age group 45 to 49 years recorded the highest percentage of total pilgrims during 2026, at 17 percent, followed by the age group 40 to 44 years at 16 percent.
In terms of geographic distribution, the Governorate of Muscat ranked first among the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman in the number of pilgrims, with a total of 3,397 pilgrims, followed by the Governorate of North Al Batinah with 2,445 pilgrims, and then the Governorate of South Al Batinah with 1,683 pilgrims. The Governorate of A’Dhahirah recorded the highest rate of pilgrims per thousand residents aged 18 years and above, at 4.5 pilgrims.
The report stated that air transport accounted for the largest share of pilgrim movement during 2026, at 78 percent, with 10,966 pilgrims, compared to 22 percent for land transport, with 3,034 pilgrims. The average cost of pilgrimage per individual via air transport was OMR2,013, compared to RO 1,647 for land transport.
