Delay in Departure of First Hajj Convoys from the Kurdistan Region

ARK News.. The spokesperson for the General Directorate of Hajj and Umrah in the Kurdistan Region announced the latest developments regarding this year’s Hajj journey, noting that current conditions and the security situation in the region have led to changes in the travel schedule.

According to Kurdistan24, the spokesperson, Karwan Stoni, said on Thursday, April 9, 2026, that the visa issuance process has reached its final stages, stressing that “visas for nearly all pilgrims have been completed.”

Stoni added that the directorate has instructed relevant companies to report any technical or administrative issues related to visas for immediate resolution.

Regarding travel timing, he revealed that the previously scheduled departure of the first convoy on May 7 has been changed, stating: “Due to tensions and the unstable situation in the region, the departure date is currently unspecified and is directly linked to the reopening of airports and the resumption of normal air traffic.”

He further noted that the directorate’s original plan was to transport all pilgrims by air; however, the continued closure of airports may necessitate alternative options, such as overland transport by buses.

In this context, Stoni warned of the risks associated with land routes, explaining: “There are security risks and ongoing shelling in areas such as Amerli, Tuz Khurmatu, and al Anbar—regions through which Hajj convoys would pass. Despite coordination with the Federal Police, the safety of pilgrims remains the top priority.”

He concluded by noting that there is a time window of approximately 20 to 25 days before the expected start of the trips, emphasizing that the Kurdistan Regional Government will make a final decision on whether to proceed with the convoys based on an assessment of field conditions and the need to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims traveling to Mecca.

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