Kurdish pilgrim from Kalar dies in Saudi Arabia after completing Umrah

SULAYMANIYAH — An 88-year-old Kurdish woman from Kalar, Sulaymaniyah, died in Saudi Arabia on Thursday after completing the Umrah pilgrimage, according to the Kurdistan Hajj and Umrah Directorate.

The directorate identified the pilgrim as Maliha Ahmad Ali Khan and said she passed away while returning from Umrah. Her body is expected to be returned and buried in Kalar later today.

Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca that can be performed at any time of year, is distinct from the Hajj, which is obligatory for Muslims once in their lifetime and must be performed during specific dates.

Khan’s death marks the 10th reported fatality among pilgrims from the Kurdistan Region in Saudi Arabia so far in 2025.

Earlier this week, officials said nearly 90,000 people in the Kurdistan Region have registered electronically for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage — the first time the region has fully adopted a digital registration system.