Riyadh / Tehran —For the first time in over ten years, Saudi Arabia has reopened its skies to Iranian Hajj pilgrims. The move comes as a significant milestone in the gradual thawing of relations between Riyadh and Tehran, which were restored in March 2023 through mediation led by China.
According to officials, Saudi-based low-cost airline Flynas has resumed operations for Iranian pilgrims, with the first flight departing from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport on Saturday. Another key departure point will be Mashhad, enabling the transport of more than 35,000 Iranian pilgrims to the Kingdom for this year’s pilgrimage season, as reported by AFP.
A spokesperson from Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed, “Flynas resumed flights dedicated to Iranian Hajj pilgrims from Imam Khomeini Airport.” These services are exclusive to the Hajj season and are not part of commercial passenger operations.
READ MORE: Korea and Indonesia Strengthen Partnership to Boost Muslim Women Entrepreneurs
The flights come ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage, expected to begin in the first week of June 2025. This development follows years of severed ties that began in 2016 after Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad were stormed during protests over the execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
Previously, Iranian pilgrims could only travel to Saudi Arabia on government-chartered Iranian aircraft. However, relations have gradually improved over the last few years. Notable diplomatic gestures have included the exchange of ambassadors, several high-level diplomatic meetings, and significant state visits.
In November 2023, the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi made a historic visit to Saudi Arabia—the first by an Iranian president in two decades—to attend a joint Arab-Islamic summit focused on the war in Gaza. More recently, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a visit to Tehran, signaling further commitment to rebuilding ties.
The resumption of Hajj flights symbolizes more than just renewed air travel—it reflects a hopeful turn in the diplomatic narrative between two of the region’s most influential powers.
