Saudi airline resumes Iran Hajj flights after nearly a decade

Key Takeaways

• Flynas started direct Iran Hajj flights on May 18, 2025, after nearly a decade of halted travel.
• Over 35,000 Iranian pilgrims will be served on up to 224 round-trip flights by July 1, 2025.
• Diplomatic ties restored in March 2023 enabled Saudi and Iranian cooperation on religious travel logistics.

For the first time since 2015, a Saudi airline has started flying Iranian pilgrims directly to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. This long-awaited step comes after almost a decade of blocked travel and tense relations between Iran 🇮🇷 and Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦. The airline in question is Flynas, a well-known Saudi budget airline that is now making history with these special Iran hajj flights. This article looks closely at what this move means, the key facts behind the flights, how both countries reached this point, and how it could change the future for pilgrims and the entire region.

The First Flights: Flynas Restarts Iran Hajj Flights

On Saturday, May 18, 2025, the Saudi airline Flynas began direct flights bringing Iranian pilgrims from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport to Saudi Arabia. Soon, flights will also start from Mashhad, another major city in Iran. These flights are not open to regular travelers or tourists—they are set aside only for those making the journey to Hajj, the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca that every able-bodied Muslim is expected to do at least once in their lifetime.

In total, more than 35,000 Iranians are expected to board these Flynas flights to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj season, which is set to start in early June. To manage this large number, Flynas is planning up to 224 round-trip flights between Iran and Saudi Arabia before July 1.

Why These Flights Matter—Not Just for Pilgrims

The start of these Iran hajj flights with a Saudi airline has far-reaching meaning. These flights are more than just a travel option—they are a sign that the door between the two countries is swinging open again. After years of cold relations and blocked borders, seeing a Saudi and an Iranian plane side by side at the airport sends a strong message: change is happening.

For the pilgrims themselves, the new flights are a big relief. Traveling to Mecca for Hajj is one of the most important events in a Muslim’s life. Instead of facing roundabout routes, changing planes, or using only Iranian airlines during a narrow time window, these worshippers can now fly straight from Iran to Saudi Arabia with fewer delays and simpler paperwork.

According to VisaVerge.com, these direct flights could make planning and carrying out the pilgrimage far smoother and less stressful for the tens of thousands making the journey this year.

How Did We Get Here? A Troubled History

It wasn’t always this way. Ten years ago, relations between the two countries reached a crisis point. In 2016, after Saudi Arabia executed a Shia cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, crowds in Iran hit Saudi embassies and consulates. In response, Saudi Arabia broke off diplomatic and consular relations with Iran. This meant Iranian citizens could not make the Hajj that year—a first in decades.

In the years that followed, Iranians were sometimes allowed into Mecca for Hajj, but only under special arrangements. They could only fly on Iranian-chartered planes, and all services had to be arranged by middlemen. No Saudi airline, including Flynas, was allowed to pick up or bring Iranian worshippers for Hajj.

What changed? In March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore full diplomatic links, thanks in large part to a deal brokered by China. This important step didn’t just open embassies—it also created room for closer talks, new trade, more visits, and cooperation on religious events like Hajj.

It’s this resuming of relations and fresh trust that has now made it possible for a Saudi airline to fly Iranian Hajj pilgrims directly to Saudi Arabian airports.

Logistics: Making the Pilgrimage Easier

With this deal in place, logistics for the 2025 Hajj season look much brighter for Iranians. Pilgrims depart from either Tehran’s main airport or from Mashhad, one of Iran’s largest cities. Each flight with Flynas is direct and comes with special handling for pilgrims, ensuring their journey fits the needs and traditions of the Hajj.

The agreement allows Flynas to run 224 round-trip flights to and from the two countries by July 1, meaning there are enough seats for everyone—more than 35,000 pilgrims in total—to make their way to Mecca without waiting for last-minute tickets or using less direct routes.

On arrival, these flights mean faster processing at Saudi airports, as all paperwork and visas will have been prepared in advance through the agreed system between the two governments.

What This Means for the Region and Beyond

Regional experts see these Iran hajj flights by Flynas as about more than just the journey to Mecca. They believe they could signal more cooperation between the two countries in tourism, business, and even in handling future crises.

• Easier travel: With direct flights, pilgrims save time, money, and energy. Reuniting families and friends across borders becomes a more realistic goal.
• Business ties: As air travel becomes easier, business people from both sides may meet more often, helping create new trade routes and boosting economies.
• Regional calm: When two powerful countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia resolve long-time problems, the whole region gains stability.

People are watching to see if this trust continues to grow. Observers point out that this milestone could lead to new deals in health, science, tourism, and education, as both sides see the benefits of teamwork.

The Symbolic Power of Hajj Flights

Travel connections, especially for religious purposes, have great symbolic meaning in the Middle East. The fact that a Saudi airline is now serving Iran hajj flights sends a positive message to millions. For many, travel to the Hajj is not just a “trip.” It’s a spiritual duty that carries huge weight. Making it easier for people of all backgrounds to come together for this event lines up with the shared values of peace, respect, and togetherness in Islam.

For many Iranians, the return of these flights ends a painful chapter where politics got in the way of faith. Now, families can plan their journeys with more ease, knowing that travel options are improving.

Quick Facts Table: 2025 Hajj Resumed Flights

Looking Ahead: Possible Benefits and Next Steps

• Improved trust: Direct Hajj flights could lead to more collaboration in the future.
• Safer journeys: Coordination helps keep travelers safe and healthy, especially as thousands move between countries.
• Practical lessons: By working together for Hajj, officials can practice solving other shared problems.
• More services: In time, Saudi airlines like Flynas may offer more routes for regular travelers, boosting tourism and family visits.

From the outside, these changes may not look dramatic, but they show how practical steps—like a single flight picking up pilgrims—can create new habits and trust. And that trust is the foundation for more peaceful ties between nations.

How This Affects Pilgrims, Families, and Communities

For Iranian pilgrims, this change is personal. After years of complex ticketing and unclear rules, the ability to book a seat on a Saudi airline represents a new freedom. It means less paperwork, fewer delays, and more certainty. For their families, it removes the worry of children or parents getting stranded or missing key religious events.

Community leaders in both countries see these flights as a hopeful sign. They provide a space for dialogue, shared planning, and a future where policies don’t punish ordinary people.

Contrast with Past Years

Until now, Iranians going for Hajj depended only on Iranian-chartered aircraft or special, sometimes last-minute, agreements. If you were one of these travelers, you faced many more obstacles. That included uncertainty about routes, timing, permits, and often, higher costs.

Now, for the first time in nearly a decade, the doors have swung open for more than 35,000 Iranians to join the Hajj season early and on direct flights provided by a Saudi airline. Flynas, in this case, is not just carrying passengers—it represents a bigger move toward normal, peaceful cross-border ties.

Wider Diplomatic and Cultural Impact

Diplomats, foreign policy analysts, and community elders are watching these events with great interest. The successful handling of the Hajj flights could encourage Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 and Iran 🇮🇷 to cooperate more on other issues. Agreements reached in 2023 are already bringing about meetings on cultural exchange, education, health, and regional safety.

This progress is also a win for faith communities around the world who want to see peaceful relations between big countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia. As more flights and smoother cooperation become the norm, families with ties on both sides hope travel, study, and work will get easier as well.

Continued Cooperation and Future Hopes

As of now, Flynas will be running up to 224 round-trip Iran hajj flights for the 2025 season. This number is expected to cover all needs for Iranian pilgrims. If all goes well, both governments may increase cooperation on other types of travel and shared projects. More direct flights, visa-free travel options, or even joint business conferences could follow.

Observers also note that new travel links often lead to fresh thinking about border rules, visa changes, and student or family migration. With religious travel so important in both countries, officials may be encouraged to make visiting, studying, or working in the neighboring country simpler for their citizens.

Where to Find More Information

Those planning to travel for Hajj this year, or wishing to know more about the process, should check official Saudi government updates on Hajj and Umrah services, which offer current guidelines and requirements for visitors. These pages update often and show clear steps for preparing paperwork, booking tickets, and understanding safety rules.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, strong official support is a key reason this year’s Hajj season is set to be the smoothest for Iranians in many years.

In Summary: A Chance for True Change

The return of direct Hajj flights from Iran to Saudi Arabia via Flynas shows how positive steps can have real effects on daily life. For the over 35,000 Iranians planning to attend Hajj in 2025, these flights provide not just comfort and convenience, but also hope that peaceful cross-border connections are possible.

With the political climate warming and diplomatic steps backed by real action, both countries have a chance to turn this year’s Hajj season into a starting point for deeper trust and collaboration. That is a welcome change for families, worshippers, and anyone hoping for safer and friendlier travel in the Middle East.

For more practical, up-to-date information and guides on immigration and travel issues in the region, VisaVerge.com remains a trusted resource for both pilgrims and policy watchers alike.

Learn Today

Hajj → An annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca mandatory at least once for all physically and financially able Muslims.
Diplomatic Relations → Formal political, economic, and social connections between two countries, allowing cooperation and negotiations for mutual benefit.
Pilgrims → Individuals traveling to a sacred place for religious reasons, such as Muslims journeying to Mecca for Hajj.
Round-trip Flights → Airline journeys that include a departure to a destination and a return back to the starting location.
Chartered Planes → Aircraft hired for specific journeys, often used for private or exclusive group travel arrangements.

This Article in a Nutshell

The reopening of Iran Hajj flights via Flynas marks a significant milestone for religious travel. Over 35,000 Iranians can now attend Hajj directly, reflecting improved Saudi-Iranian relations after years of tension. This streamlined process marks a hopeful step for regional peace, easing logistics for pilgrims and families.
— By VisaVerge.com

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