Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Iran to resume Umrah pilgrimages after six-month suspension
Iran is planning to let its citizens travel to Saudi Arabia again for a special religious trip called Umrah.
The trips were stopped for six months, and now they are starting again.
About 18,000 people will go in the very first group.
An official named Akbar Rezaei said one plane will take off every five days from different parts of Iran.
People can sign up to register starting in late August.
Almost five million people are already waiting for their turn to go.
In the past, about 200,000 Iranians made this trip in less than a year.
The program can grow bigger only if enough flights are arranged and the country can get the foreign money needed to pay for the trips.
This is not the first time the trips were paused—long ago, they were stopped for ten whole years.
Iran plans to resume sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Umrah after a six-month suspension, with 18,000 people scheduled in the first phase.
Akbar Rezaei, deputy head of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation, said one flight would depart every five days from different Iranian provinces during the initial phase.
Registration for Umrah is expected to begin in early Shahrivar, the sixth month of Iran's Solar Hijri calendar, which starts in late August.
Around five million people holding Umrah registration vouchers are currently waiting to travel, while about 200,000 Iranians travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah in less than a year in previous periods.
Expansion of the programme will depend on the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation finalising flight arrangements and securing the foreign currency needed for the trips.
- Who
- Iranian citizens holding Umrah registration vouchers and Akbar Rezaei, deputy head of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation.
- What
- Iran is resuming Umrah pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia after a six-month suspension, starting with 18,000 pilgrims in the first phase.
- When
- After a six-month suspension; registration is expected to begin in early Shahrivar, which starts in late August.
- Where
- From different Iranian provinces to Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The article does not state the reason for the suspension; it notes that expansion will depend on finalising flight arrangements and securing foreign currency for the trips.
- First phase pilgrims
- 18,000
- Pilgrims waiting
- About 5 million holding Umrah registration vouchers
- Flights in initial phase
- One flight every five days from different provinces
- Registration
- Early Shahrivar, starting late August
- Previous travel pace
- About 200,000 Iranians in less than a year; over 1,300 pilgrims per day near the end of last year
- Longest historical stoppage
- 10 years (930-940 AD) after the Qarmatian Sect Attack
- Source
- Iran's Fars News Agency