Hajj pilgrims press on despite Iran war uncertainty

Hajj pilgrims press on despite Iran war uncertainty Submitted by Areeb Ullah on Sun, 05/24/2026 - 15:17 As airspace restrictions, higher costs and geopolitical tensions ripple across the Middle East, hundreds of thousands still travel for the annual pilgrimage in Mecca Saudi authorities said 1.5 million pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia for the Hajj (AFP) Off For years, Shahid Ali and his wife quietly saved money in a small tin box tucked away in their East London home. The couple cut back on luxuries, postponed renovations and skipped holidays for one reason: to perform Hajj together before they grow too old. But after Israel and the United States  began their war on Iran , what should have been a moment of anticipation became clouded by doubt and anxiety. "My children asked us to reconsider, but we have waited our lives for this," Ali told Middle East Eye from his home.  "There was a lot of uncertainty because flights were cancelled en masse, but no change has been made and it looks like we are going." His concerns are echoed in conversations taking place in homes and mosques across the world, yet they have not stopped hundreds of thousands from undertaking this year's pilgrimage. The war has already disrupted air travel, increased living costs in many countries, and forced airlines to introduce additional fees and longer routes. Despite the disruption, hundreds of thousands from across the globe have already made the journey, with Ali among them. Saudi authorities said on Saturday that around 1.5 million pilgrims had already arrived from abroad, surpassing last year's total. Earlier this week, two officials told MEE that US President Donald Trump p...

Original source: Middle East Eye