Kurdish pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat during Hajj, dressed in traditional attire with Kurdistan flags.
Caps for pilgrims over 70
Kurdistan Region to enforce Saudi quotas for 2025 Hajj pilgrimage
ERBIL — Iraq’s Supreme Hajj and Umrah Committee instructed the Kurdistan Region’s Directorate of Hajj and Umrah on Thursday to implement new age guidelines mandated by Saudi Arabia for the upcoming pilgrimage season.
Under the guidelines issued March 12 by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, no more than 7% of Iraq’s total Hajj quota may be allocated to pilgrims older than 70.
“The Supreme Hajj and Umrah Committee of Iraq has requested that the General Directorate of Hajj and Umrah in Kurdistan and all other governorates in Iraq begin implementing the Saudi guidelines within a specified timeframe, which must be completed by Thursday, March 27, 2025,” said Karwan Stoni, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region’s Hajj and Umrah Directorate.
Stoni said Kurdistan’s quota for pilgrims above age 70 is capped at 358 individuals this year. “Those exceeding this number will be deferred to the 2026 Hajj season,” he explained.
Following receipt of the directive, Kurdistan’s Hajj and Umrah Directorate held an emergency meeting led by director Sheikh Niyaz Raghib Naqshbandi, attended by senior directorate officials and representatives from local Hajj offices.
The discussions centered on methods to comply with the Saudi directive while also accommodating the interests of the public. “Our priority is to ensure the directives are followed while addressing the needs of our people,” Stoni said.
The new measures are part of Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to streamline the Hajj process, enhancing pilgrims’ safety and comfort. Iraqi governorates, including the Kurdistan Region, are now adjusting their preparations accordingly.
Saudi Arabia sets annual Hajj quotas based on each country’s Muslim population, typically allotting 1,000 pilgrims per million Muslims. Nations negotiate quotas yearly, adjusted for special circumstances such as health crises or political considerations.
Iraq’s recent annual quota has ranged from 34,000 to 40,000 pilgrims, allocated proportionally among governorates, including the Kurdistan Region. The Iraqi Supreme Hajj and Umrah Authority distributes these slots through a lottery system, offering exceptions for older applicants or those repeatedly unsuccessful. Quotas may shift due to political agreements, infrastructure limits in Mecca, or regional developments.
