Haj Flights Resume Between Saudi Arabia and Iran After Eight-Year Pause
| 2025-05-19
A Saudi Arabian airline has resumed flights for Iranian pilgrims travelling to Mecca, marking the first such journeys since diplomatic relations between the two nations were severed in 2016.
Flynas restarts haj flights from Iran for the first time since 2015, signalling improved Saudi-Iran relations after a Chinese-brokered deal in 2023.
Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier Flynas began operating haj flights from Iran on Saturday, enabling thousands of Iranian pilgrims to travel directly to Saudi Arabia for the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
According to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, flights departed from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, with additional services planned from Mashhad. The authority said more than 35,000 Iranian pilgrims are expected to travel with the airline this haj season, which begins in June.
The announcement represents a significant step in restoring bilateral ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which were suspended for over seven years following a diplomatic breakdown.
Until this development, Iranians performing the haj were restricted to using Iranian-chartered flights arranged through special pilgrimage agreements.
Flynas, a privately-owned airline based in Riyadh, has not operated haj services from Iran since 2015. A spokesperson for the Saudi aviation authority, speaking to Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity, confirmed the resumption of services and said further coordination was underway to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims.
Diplomatic Shift
Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran in January 2016, after protesters stormed and set fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Mashhad. The unrest followed the execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi authorities—a move that drew sharp criticism from Tehran and sparked widespread protests across Iran.
Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran in January 2016, after protesters stormed and set fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Mashhad. The unrest followed the execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi authorities—a move that drew sharp criticism from Tehran and sparked widespread protests across Iran.
The two regional powers restored diplomatic relations in March 2023 following a deal brokered by China. The agreement was widely seen as a breakthrough in regional diplomacy, signalling a desire by both nations to reduce tensions and cooperate on mutual interests, including religious tourism and regional security.
The haj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be performed at least once in a lifetime by all Muslims who are physically and financially able. It draws millions of worshippers to Mecca each year from around the world and serves as a significant point of convergence for the global Muslim community.
For decades, Iran and Saudi Arabia have represented opposing political and religious poles in the Middle East—Iran being a majority-Shiite nation and Saudi Arabia a leading Sunni power. These differences have often translated into rivalry across regional conflicts and political disputes.
The resumption of haj flights represents a concrete sign of thawing relations and may help ease broader tensions between the two countries. Analysts say religious diplomacy has long been used as a barometer of political goodwill between Riyadh and Tehran.
Future Implications
With over 35,000 Iranian pilgrims expected to travel via Flynas this year, the renewed cooperation could signal a new era of logistical and cultural engagement between the two nations. Observers will be watching whether this reconciliation extends to other areas of bilateral concern, including trade, security, and regional diplomacy.
With over 35,000 Iranian pilgrims expected to travel via Flynas this year, the renewed cooperation could signal a new era of logistical and cultural engagement between the two nations. Observers will be watching whether this reconciliation extends to other areas of bilateral concern, including trade, security, and regional diplomacy.
For now, the skies between Tehran and Mecca are once again open—offering a path not just for pilgrims, but potentially for peace.
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