Second most income for saudi arabia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Second most income for saudi arabia - Essay Example The country’s stability in both its religious and economic status makes it one of the most prestigious Islamic States. Saudi Arabia’s strict adherence to Sharia Law and religious rituals has made the country a significant religious center in the world. The country is largely occupied by the Sunni Muslims, who account for more than a third of the total population in Saudi Arabia. This essay will cover the impact of the two pilgrimages, Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia’s economy while also citing the respective countries that attend these pilgrimages. The Hajj and Umrah are important rituals in the Islam religion; the practices are conducted for religious dedications as well as acts of solidarity among the Muslims in the entire world. For instance, the Hajj pilgrimage is attributed to the great prophet Muhammad, which dates back to the seventh century. Although Umrah is optional unlike Hajj Muslim turn in great numbers to mark the practice, which is symbolic of their Islamic faith. The Hajj is a requirement for all Muslims at some point of their lives as long as they are financially and physically able. The continuous practice of these two pilgrimages over the years have not only improved Saudi Arabia’s economy but also strengthened the Islamic faith among Muslims worldwide. Millions of Muslim visitors who go to perform the annual Hajj and Umrah spend billions of dollars in Mecca. Al-Monitor states that the revenues generated from Hajj and Umrah in 2012 were about 62 billion riyals, which were a 10% increment compared to the previous year. The reports also indicate that out of the three million pilgrims who attended the Hajj ritual in 2012, 1.7 million were foreign visitors. The pilgrims were organized according their nationalities, out of the 189 different countries that the pilgrims had come from. According to Al-Monitor, the expert sources that provided the estimate statistics also indicated