Searches for accommodation in Makkah up 20.67% and in Madinah up 25.16% compared to Ramadan 2025, with mobile bookings accounting for 76% of all reservations
Travel data from Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa, shows a clear rise in travel activity among Saudi Arabia residents during Ramadan 2026. Searches for accommodation in Makkah have increased by 20.67% year on year, while searches in Madinah are up 25.16% compared to the same period in 2025. Demand peaks during the second half of the holy month.
Umrah remains the primary reason for travel during Ramadan, with family connectivity also playing a significant role. Alongside this, there is a clear trend towards earlier planning for Eid Al-Fitr and travel in the weeks following Ramadan, giving the market useful advance visibility into seasonal demand.
Hotel bookings
Wego’s data confirms that travellers strongly prefer hotels located close to the Haram, with average nightly rates reaching around USD 400, or SAR 1,500. Nearly half of all travellers, 49%, book more than one month in advance, reflecting a considered approach to securing availability and managing costs during a high-demand period.
Digital bookings
Mobile devices lead the way for trip planning, hotel bookings, and domestic flight reservations in Saudi Arabia. Some 76% of all bookings made at the start of Ramadan 2026 come through the Wego app. This points to growing confidence in digital platforms, not just for comparing prices, but also for choosing accommodation by location and checking real-time availability before completing a payment.
Smart travel tools
Digital booking tools have become a standard part of how people plan and manage travel. Features such as the Price Calendar, fare alerts, and flexible date selection allow users to compare flights and accommodation options quickly, supporting more efficient spending and a smoother booking experience overall.
Domestic travel
Outside of Umrah, Ramadan travel within Saudi Arabia is shaped by family gatherings and movement between cities. Domestic flight search volumes are running close to last year’s levels, with steady demand on routes between Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Madinah. Most of these trips last up to one week, with travel timing influenced by Iftar and Suhoor schedules, religious commitments, and the desire to spend the holy month with family.
Eid travel
Booking data for Eid Al-Fitr shows a growing trend towards early planning, giving the market clearer advance sight of expected demand. This reflects a broader shift in how travellers approach trip planning, with more people using digital tools to balance cost and experience when booking for peak periods.
Taken together, the Ramadan data reinforces the season’s position as a key driver of domestic travel in Saudi Arabia and a direct contributor to the country’s hospitality and aviation sectors.
See also: where to eat suhoor in Dubai during Ramadan 2026, more UAE news and more things to do in Dubai.