More than 68,000 register online for Hajj in Kurdistan Region as digital system makes debut

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Region’s Hajj and Umrah office said Thursday that 68,400 people have registered electronically for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage, with applications open until Sept. 20. Officials stressed that the process is free of charge, requires no office visits and can be completed entirely online.

“Hajj registration continues electronically without anyone needing to visit an office, pay fees, or submit photocopies,” Karwan Stuni, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Hajj and Umrah office, told 964media. “In this summer heat, people only need to fill out the form online. This is the greatest service and convenience the government has provided to citizens.”

This is the first year the electronic registration system has been used in the Kurdistan Region. In the past, applicants had to visit offices in person, fill out paper forms and pay a 25,000 Iraqi dinar ($17.60) submission fee.

Stuni said nearly 40,000 requests have been filed so far, covering a total of 68,400 applicants, since many submissions include multiple people. He added that 7,789 requests remain incomplete because they have not been officially submitted.

Once registration closes, a lottery will determine who can travel in 2026, as demand far exceeds Iraq’s quota of about 34,000 to 40,000 pilgrims in recent years. The quota is divided across governorates, including the Kurdistan Region.

Earlier this year, Iraq requested an increase in its quota from Saudi Arabia and is awaiting a response. Until then, the lottery system remains in place.