The Fourth Aliyah began in 1924, with the influx of 12,000 immigrants to Palestine—doubling the total of 6,000 arrivals over the preceding three years. The momentum of immigration escalated further in the following year, with 35,000 newcomers. Contrasting with the earlier immigration waves of primarily young, single settlers, the Fourth Aliyah consisted largely of married, middle-class individuals, many of whom were financially well-off. This shift heralded the beginning of industrial development in Palestine. Nonetheless, the pace of immigration decelerated by 1926, and by the decade's end, Palestine was grappling with an economic downturn, leading to several years where the number of emigrants surpassed immigrants.