Iraqi Airways begins flying 23,000 pilgrims home from Saudi Arabia

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Airways will launch its first return flights for Iraqi pilgrims from Saudi Arabia on Monday, bringing nearly 23,000 pilgrims home following the Hajj season.

Manaf Abdul Moneim Ajel, director general of Iraqi Airways, said the airline has completed all necessary preparations and allocated wide-body aircraft including Boeing 777, Airbus A330 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, as well as Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft. Flights will operate from the airports of Medina, Jeddah and Taif to airports across Iraq. “We have adopted the highest levels of coordination with the Hajj and Umrah Authority, Iraqi and Saudi authorities, as well as various supporting institutions, to ensure the success of the return plan and secure the smooth and safe return of pilgrims,” Ajel said.

The return operation comes days after Iraq was named the recipient of Saudi Arabia’s “Labbaytum” award for the fourth consecutive year. Presented annually by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the award recognizes the best-performing Islamic Hajj mission based on organizational, logistical, health and religious services provided to pilgrims.

This year’s Hajj drew more than 1.7 million pilgrims from 165 countries, with official statistics recording 1,707,301 participants in the 1447 AH/2026 season, including more than 1.54 million arriving from outside Saudi Arabia.