AhlulBayt News Agency: The first phase of this year’s Umrah pilgrimage for Iranian pilgrims has officially concluded, with approximately 192,000 Iranians having completed the journey to Saudi Arabia for the lesser pilgrimage.
According to Iranian officials, this initial phase began on September 18, 2024, and came to a close last night.
All pilgrims are expected to return to Iran by April 22, 2025.
Saudi Arabia is now preparing for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which brings millions of Muslims from around the world to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Following a brief pause of approximately two weeks to accommodate Hajj pilgrims, the second phase of Iranian Umrah pilgrimages will resume in mid-July 2025, after the completion of Hajj rituals.
This year’s Umrah season marked a milestone in Iran-Saudi Arabia relations, as it was the first large-scale resumption of Iranian Umrah pilgrimages since 2016.
The hiatus followed diplomatic tensions and the severing of formal ties between the two countries. However, in March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore relations through a deal brokered by China, opening the door for renewed cooperation, including in religious tourism.
Earlier this year, Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization announced that over 200,000 Iranians were expected to participate in Umrah by the end of the current pilgrimage cycle.
Umrah, unlike Hajj, can be performed at any time of the year and is not obligatory but highly recommended in Islamic tradition.
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