Hundreds of Nigerian Muslims preparing for the 2026 Umrah pilgrimage have incurred significant financial losses after flight cancellations and suspensions linked to escalating military hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran disrupted travel plans and left many intending pilgrims unable to depart for Saudi Arabia.
Umrah is a religious pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina undertaken by Muslims throughout the year, with particularly large numbers during the month of Ramadan.
Many Nigerians make travel arrangements well in advance, paying for visas, flights and hotel accommodations for themselves and family members.
In late February 2026, military hostilities involving the United States and Israel against Iran led to partial closures of airspace in several Middle Eastern countries and the cancellation of many airline services.
Airlines operating in the region, including some that normally serve routes from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia via transit hubs in the Gulf, suspended flights, citing safety concerns and airspace closures.
Travel agents and affected pilgrims said many planned departures between March 4 and March 6 were cancelled after airlines such as Emirates and Qatar Airways suspended services due to regional tensions.
Some pilgrims had already secured visas and paid for hotel bookings in Mecca and Medina before their flights were called off.
A local government chairman in Ilorin, Kwara State, and two government officials were among those unable to board scheduled Emirates flights.
They had paid for accommodation in Mecca and Medina and incurred costs for visas and other arrangements.
One affected pilgrim said his group had paid the equivalent of about ₦5 million for hotel accommodation in Mecca, with additional lodging costs in Medina, and that their visas are valid until April 8.
Efforts by their travel agent to secure refunds from the airline were unsuccessful, with the airline offering only rescheduling options.
Another affected traveller in Osun State said he and his wife had spent more than ₦13 million on visas, hotel accommodation and flight tickets before the Qatar Airways flight they booked was cancelled.
Travel agents described correspondence with airlines indicating that cancellations resulted from broader service suspensions in the region rather than issues with specific bookings, and that refunds were not guaranteed under those conditions.
Several intending pilgrims told PUNCH that their bookings were rescheduled, but they could not secure refunds from hotels or airlines, resulting in losses on multiple payments already made.
The cancellations have left a large number of Nigerian Muslims facing financial losses from prepaid costs for visas, hospitality and airline tickets.
Many of these expenses are non‑refundable, increasing the economic impact on individuals and families who had planned their pilgrimages.
Travel sector sources said disruptions at major transit hubs in the Middle East have reshaped travel logistics, affecting not only pilgrims but also broader passenger flows between Nigeria and international destinations.
