Mecca vs Medina

Mecca leads Medina by 4 points on the CIRA Index, 60 to 56. Mecca grades better on 7 measures, Medina on 2; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Mecca 60, Medina 56
• OECD: Mecca 66, Medina 55
• UN Tourism: Mecca 64, Medina 51
• UNDRR: Mecca 69, Medina 39

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Mecca 80, Medina 92
• Economy and jobs: Mecca 75, Medina 67
• Climate and hazards: Mecca 40, Medina 40
• Water and environment: Mecca 50, Medina 31
• Community and housing: Mecca 75, Medina 63
• Access and continuity: Mecca 71, Medina 38

Where Mecca is stronger

• Unemployment rate: 8.7 % of the labour force (region figure) (General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) via DataSaudi, Q1 2026). Between 8 and 12: grade 2/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 100 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (UN-Habitat & Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (MoMRA), Future Saudi Cities Programme - CPI Profile Makkah, 2017). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 511 kg per resident per year (PLOS One, Biodiesel production potential from fat fraction of municipal waste in Makkah, 2014–2024). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4.
• Green space: 17.1 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (region figure) (Saudi National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification via Arab News, 2023). Between 10 and 20: grade 1/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (Saudi Civil Defence / National Early Warning Platform, 2026). Grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah / Preprints - Mass Gathering Medicine and Crisis Management Review, 2024–2025). Grade 4/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (Saudi Tourism Development Fund (TDF) / Saudi Ministry of Tourism, 2020-2026). Grade 3/4.

Where Medina is stronger

• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 75 % average annual occupancy (Almqr Development Company / Saudi Press Agency (SPA), 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Saudi Arabia Railways & General Authority of Civil Aviation, 2026). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Saudi Arabia: #29 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Saudi Arabia: #29 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Mecca in full · Medina in full

The CIRA Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · CIRA Studio · Put your city in the pilot