Occupancy rates are surging in hotels and furnished apartments in the central area of Haram Mosque in Makkah, and the Mosque of the Profit Mohammad in Madinah. The occupancy rates are nearly 95% which is similar to the rates seen during the peak Umrah season in the holy months of Ramadan or Haj days.
The sudden increase in occupancy rates is attributed to the short mid year academic school vacation which started last Wednesday. There was also a big influx of Umrah pilgrims from Muslim countries such as Turkey and Iran. The owner of an Umrah service providing company explained companies were successful in marketing their Umrah package through agents in foreign countries.