Riyadh: The Ministry of Energy announced that, with the guidance and support of the Kingdom's leadership and through close coordination among relevant entities, the Saudi energy ecosystem successfully implemented its operational plans during the 1447 AH Hajj season, ensuring the reliable and efficient delivery of electricity services and petroleum products to pilgrims.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the energy ecosystem saw peak electricity loads during the Hajj season across the holy sites. Saudi Energy recorded peak electricity demand of 464 megawatts in Arafat, up 8% from the previous Hajj season, while peak demand in Mina rose 5% to 375 megawatts.
The electricity system completed the Hajj season without any power outages or breaches of the grid's safe operating limits, supported by early planning, coordination among government entities and service providers, and investments in smart-grid infrastructure. The advanced system enabled real-time grid monitoring and proactive analysis of operational indicators using artificial intelligence.
Furthermore, the holy sites' electricity grid was further expanded through the commissioning of the Mina 7 substation and its connection to the power grid, with a capacity of 121 MW, building on five substations completed during last year's Hajj season. Fiber-optic network coverage reached 940 km, linking more than 3,070 smart devices across the holy sites and strengthening communications and operational reliability.
The holy sites' grid also includes more than 10,000 smart meters monitored around the clock through a control center, improving response times, operational efficiency and overall grid reliability.
To further strengthen readiness, the Saudi Energy Company and other electricity-sector entities conducted two large-scale power-grid tests ahead of Hajj to verify readiness and ensure reliable service during the Hajj season, under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Energy and with follow-up by the Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority.
The Ministry of Energy also continuously monitored petroleum product availability at fuel stations across Makkah and Madinah through more than 12,000 field and desk-based inspections covering over 400 fuel stations. Mobile laboratories were deployed to verify fuel quality throughout the Hajj season.
Between 1 Dhu Al-Qadah and 10 Dhu Al-Hijjah (April 18-May 27, 2026), diesel consumption in Makkah and Madinah averaged 34,500 barrels per day, totaling 5.5 million barrels, up 3.8% from the same period a year earlier. Consumption of gasoline grades 91 and 95 averaged 39,800 barrels per day, totaling 6.4 million barrels, an increase of 4.9%.
The Permanent Executive Committee for Service Centers and Fuel Stations, chaired by the Ministry of Energy and comprising 10 government entities, also oversaw seven joint inspection campaigns, including comprehensive and targeted inspections, in preparation for the Hajj season. Conducted with the participation of 12 government entities, the campaigns covered 1,735 fuel stations across the Kingdom, with a particular focus on Makkah and Madinah regions, the routes leading to the holy sites and border crossings.
More than 1,000 inspectors took part in the campaigns to verify the availability and quality of petroleum products, improve service standards and facilities, including mosques, and enhance the readiness of the fuel station and service center sector during Hajj.
The efforts form part of the committee's mandate to oversee the sector, raise service standards, strengthen compliance with approved regulations and requirements, and ensure the security of petroleum product supplies.
Additionally, inspection teams at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah monitored operations throughout the Hajj season, ensuring the availability of jet fuel supplies and maintaining inventory levels above 80%. Average jet fuel consumption at the two airports reached 54,900 barrels per day, totaling 2.2 million barrels between 1 Dhu Al-Qadah and 10 Dhu Al-Hijjah, up 1% from the same period a year earlier.
The Ministry of Energy underscored that these results reflected the energy sector's commitment to ensuring secure and reliable electricity and petroleum supplies across Makkah, Madinah, the holy sites, roads leading to them and border crossings during the Hajj season, in line with the leadership's directives to provide high-quality services to pilgrims and facilitate the performance of their rituals.
