Hundreds of Nigerian Muslims preparing for this year’s Umrah have been stranded after the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran disrupted flight operations across the Middle East.

The development forced several airlines to cancel services in the region, leaving intending pilgrims and travel agents counting millions of naira in losses.

Many of the affected pilgrims had already secured visas and paid for flights and accommodation in Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia before airlines suspended services due to the war.

Some intending pilgrims said they were scheduled to depart Nigeria between March 4 and March 6, but could not travel after several airlines halted operations.

The conflict has also led to the closure of major airspace routes across the region, affecting hubs such as Doha and Dubai, while countries including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates announced partial or full airspace restrictions.

Airlines, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Air France, Turkish Airlines, EgyptAir, and Ethiopian Airlines, have also cancelled flights due to the tensions.

One intending pilgrim from Ilorin, Kwara State, said his group had already paid about 12,500 Saudi riyals for accommodation in Mecca, equivalent to about ₦5m, before the trip was disrupted.

“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.

Similarly, a butcher in Osogbo, Osun State, said he spent more than ₦13m on the trip for himself and his wife before their Qatar Airways flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, was cancelled.

Travel agents said airlines were mostly offering rescheduling instead of refunds, while some hotels were unwilling to return the full amount paid for accommodation.

Meanwhile, an Oyo State businessman currently in Mecca said some Nigerian pilgrims whose return flights were cancelled were struggling to pay hotel bills, forcing other Nigerians to contribute money to support them.

He explained that while Saudi Arabia’s airspace remains open, disruptions at major international transit hubs have made it difficult for many pilgrims to travel.