Iran announced it would be sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj in 2024. It marks a significant step towards improved relations between the two countries. For eight years, political tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia led to a suspension of official Iranian pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah.
In a joyous announcement, Abbas Hosseini, head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization. He revealed that Iranian pilgrims are set to resume their Umrah journey in Saudi Arabia after an eight-year pause. The first batch of 550 pilgrims is scheduled to arrive in the holy city of Mecca on Tuesday, December 19.
Addressing the press in Tehran, Hosseini outlined the pilgrimage itinerary. He stated that the pilgrims will spend ten days in Saudi Arabia, splitting their time between Makkah and Madinah—five days in each sacred city. Moreover, The decision to restart Iranian Umrah flights followed extensive consultations and coordination with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, with necessary agreements and contracts already in place.
The initial group of pilgrims will depart from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. Subsequent Umrah flights will operate from various cities across Iran, including Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman, Ahvaz, Shiraz, Sari, and Zahedan.
Hosseini disclosed that a total of 70,000 Iranian pilgrims, organized into 550 batches, are expected to perform Umrah during this period. However, the dispatch of Umrah pilgrims will continue until February 29, preceding the holy month of Ramadan.
Highlighting the overwhelming interest in the pilgrimage, Hosseini mentioned that 5.7 million Iranians have registered for Umrah since 2008. He expressed the organization’s readiness to send between 800,000 and one million pilgrims to Saudi Arabia annually for Umrah. Additionally, provided the conditions are favorable and cooperation from related bodies is secured.
This significant resumption comes after Iran and Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic ties in March 2023 through a China-mediated agreement. It marks a historic development following their severance in 2016. The decision to stop sending Umrah pilgrims in 2015 preceded the diplomatic rift. Moreover, this renewed pilgrimage is a symbol of renewed relations and shared spiritual traditions.
