Kidana Development Company has expanded accommodation capacity in the holy sites to about 209,000 pilgrims after converting underused areas into serviced lodging zones in cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, marking a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s drive to raise the quality and scale of Hajj infrastructure.The expansion, announced in Makkah on May 22, adds annual accommodation capacity for up to 70,000 pilgrims and reflects three consecutive Hajj seasons of work aimed at increasing usable space across the sacred sites. The programme forms part of a wider push to ease congestion, improve comfort and make better use of land within areas that face intense pressure during the pilgrimage.
Kidana, the development arm responsible for projects in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, has focused on turning previously idle or poorly used plots into fully serviced zones. The work includes basic utilities, access routes, operational support and accommodation layouts designed to integrate with crowd-management plans during peak movement between the holy sites.
The latest capacity increase comes as Saudi authorities prepare for Hajj 1447 AH, with pilgrim arrivals accelerating in Makkah ahead of the main rites. The 2025 Hajj drew 1,673,230 pilgrims, including 1,506,576 from outside the kingdom and 166,654 domestic pilgrims. The 2026 season is expected to maintain heavy demand for regulated accommodation, transport links, health services and crowd-control systems.
Accommodation remains one of the most critical elements of Hajj planning because pilgrims move in fixed ritual sequences between Makkah, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah within a narrow timeframe. Shortages or delays in lodging arrangements can affect crowd flows, transport schedules and access to services. By adding formal capacity inside the holy sites, Kidana is seeking to reduce reliance on temporary improvisation and improve predictability for operators and pilgrims.
The company’s broader accommodation system spans more than 3.5 million square metres and includes over 45,000 tents and 46 central kitchens. These facilities support large-scale catering, rest, sanitation and operational coordination during the days when Mina becomes one of the world’s densest seasonal urban zones.
Infrastructure upgrades have extended beyond lodging. Kidana has developed more than 66,000 square metres of rest areas along pedestrian routes and advanced a 103,000-square-metre shading project to reduce heat exposure. The company has also expanded restroom provision in Mina, bringing the network to 79 two-storey complexes with 7,838 restrooms after 18 additional complexes were added to existing facilities.
Escalator upgrades in Mina have raised the total number to 74, including 10 new units across eight locations. The improvements are intended to support safer movement in areas where large groups of pilgrims travel on foot, especially near routes connected to the Jamarat complex. Such projects are increasingly important as high temperatures and dense pedestrian traffic raise operational risks during Hajj.
The accommodation expansion also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s long-term objective of improving pilgrim services under Vision 2030. The strategy seeks to increase the capacity and efficiency of religious tourism while raising service standards across transport, housing, digital registration, health care and emergency response.
Kidana’s role has grown as the holy sites shift from seasonal facilities to managed urban assets requiring year-round planning. Its mandate includes operating and developing infrastructure, increasing capacity, improving mobility and making the holy sites more sustainable. That approach reflects a broader move away from short-term seasonal fixes towards permanent systems that can be tested, maintained and scaled.
The new lodging zones are expected to support licensed Hajj service companies and official pilgrim groups by giving operators more structured accommodation options. Saudi authorities have tightened enforcement against unauthorised entry and unlicensed services after past seasons exposed risks linked to informal arrangements, heat stress and overcrowding.
The expansion also carries economic implications. Better-organised accommodation can help service providers manage costs, improve package reliability and reduce disruption for pilgrims. At the same time, it places greater pressure on operators to meet standards for safety, hygiene, catering and movement schedules.
For pilgrims, the most visible benefit will be improved access to serviced spaces closer to key ritual routes. For authorities, the larger gain lies in making the holy sites more manageable during a pilgrimage season shaped by rising demand, security sensitivities and increasingly severe summer heat.
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Saudi Arabia