28 historical and cultural sites open to visitors in Mecca
In Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 28 historical and cultural sites are open to visitors. As Asharq Al-Awsat reports, citing the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), 5.9 million people visited these locations by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Preservation of sites
Mecca’s historical and cultural sites include locations connected with events in the life of the Prophet and Islamic history, as well as roads, markets, wells, inscriptions and other landmarks that have shaped the city’s image over the centuries.
The strategy for developing such sites provides for their documentation, protection and rehabilitation, improving the visitor experience, engaging partners, and increasing the readiness and sustainability of the locations. Under the strategy, 65 studies on site development were conducted, 56 locations were documented, 32 were rehabilitated and 23 were improved.
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Visitor numbers
According to SPA, the number of visitors to Mecca’s historical and cultural sites by the end of the second quarter of 2026 totaled 5.9 million, 47% more than the 3.6 million recorded during the same period in 2025. Visitor satisfaction is estimated at 95.8%.
Since the strategy was launched, the total number of visits to these sites has exceeded 19 million. SPA attributes this to the expansion of the network of locations and visitor opportunities, improved access, and the transition of more landmarks from the research and preservation stages to welcoming visitors.
