HUNDREDS of Nigerian Muslims preparing for this year’s Umrah pilgrimage have been stranded after the escalating United States–Israel–Iran conflict disrupted major air routes across the Middle East, forcing several international airlines to suspend operations and leaving intending pilgrims and travel agents facing losses running into millions of naira.
Investigations by News Point Nigeria revealed that many of the affected pilgrims had already secured visas and paid for flight tickets and accommodation in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina before airlines abruptly cancelled flights due to the worsening security situation in the region.
Umrah, a lesser pilgrimage performed by Muslims to the holy city of Makkah in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, can be undertaken at any time of the year. However, the pilgrimage usually attracts millions of faithful during the holy month of Ramadan.
Available records indicate that more than 122 million Muslims performed Umrah during Ramadan in 2025, making it one of the busiest pilgrimage seasons annually.
But the intensifying war involving the United States, Israel and Iran has severely disrupted aviation routes across the region.
The conflict escalated after military strikes reportedly targeted strategic locations in Tehran, leading to retaliatory attacks across multiple Middle Eastern countries.
The escalation forced several countries to partially or completely shut their airspace, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Major aviation hubs such as Doha and Dubai were also affected, disrupting transit routes used by millions of international passengers.
As a result, major international carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Air France, Turkish Airlines, EgyptAir and Ethiopian Airlines cancelled or suspended flights across parts of the Middle East.
The cancellations immediately disrupted travel plans for many Nigerian Muslims who had already made arrangements for the pilgrimage.
One government official from Dutse in Jigawa state said he and three others including a local government chairman had planned to depart Nigeria on March 4 aboard Emirates.
According to him, each pilgrim had already paid about 12,500 Saudi riyals (approximately N5 million) for accommodation in Makkah
He explained that some pilgrims had also paid about 7,000 riyals per night for hotels in Madinah.
“It is a painful experience that we couldn’t proceed with the Umrah trip because of the war. We had paid for everything visa fee, accommodation, flight and other expenses,” he said.
He added that their visas would expire on April 8, raising concerns about whether they would still be able to undertake the pilgrimage.
The official disclosed that travel agents had approached the airline for refunds but were told the flights could only be rescheduled.
Similarly, a popular movie star in Kano said he spent more than N13 million preparing for the Umrah trip with his wife.
The actor said they were scheduled to depart from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos aboard Qatar Airways before the airline cancelled services to the region.
“We were supposed to travel in a group, but everything has been messed up for us. It is painful,” he said.
According to him, their travel agent is currently negotiating with the airline for possible refunds.
However, the agent explained that refunds were unlikely because the flight disruptions were caused by war-related restrictions.
“When situations like this occur, airlines typically ask customers to reschedule their flights rather than provide refunds,” the agent said.
A politician from Katsina State also said his planned Ramadan trip was disrupted after receiving a message that his ticket had been cancelled.
He had hoped to travel with his family later in the holy month.
“It was a promise I made two years ago. Now we are stranded and not sure it will be possible again this year,” he lamented.
Similarly, a businessman in Yola said the disruption affected his business plans for the upcoming Eid celebrations.
“Beyond the spiritual aspect, I usually buy goods during Umrah to stock my shop for Sallah. Now I don’t know what to do,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Nigerian trader currently in Makkah said the crisis had also disrupted travel plans for those already in Saudi Arabia.
He explained that while the kingdom had not closed its airspace, disruptions at major transit hubs had made travel extremely difficult.
“There is no tension here in Saudi Arabia. Worship continues normally, but travel connections are the main problem,” he said.
He added that some stranded Nigerian pilgrims were struggling to pay for extended hotel stays after their return flights were cancelled.
According to him, some travellers have had to rely on financial assistance from fellow Nigerians to cover accommodation costs.
As of the time of filing this report, both Emirates and Qatar Airways had not responded to enquiries sent regarding the possibility of refunds or alternative arrangements for affected passengers.
The crisis has not only disrupted spiritual journeys but has also exposed thousands of travellers to significant financial losses at a time when Umrah demand is traditionally at its peak during Ramadan.