MADINAH: More pilgrims visited Madinah for the current Haj season than last year, a report has revealed. A total of 381,469 pilgrims were in the holy city until Friday to pay homage to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and pray at his mosque. That is an increase of a 10th on this time last year, Madinah’s Haj Committee’s study revealed on Saturday.

There are still almost 230,000 pilgrims left in the holy city since over 150,000 left. According to the report, the majority of visitors to Madinah were from Indonesia (54,664), followed by Nigeria (35,867) and India (29,748). It said 59 flights carrying almost 18,000 pilgrims have landed at Prince Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz International Airport.

The report said 563 buses arrived in Madinah transporting over 25,000 pilgrims, while 598 buses left Madinah for Makkah carrying almost 27,000 pilgrims.

Hotels in Madinah are still only around two thirds full, the report revealed.

It said a total of 7,207 pilgrims had been treated at the city’s hospitals and medical centers.