First Saudi flight in nearly a decade lands in Tehran

For the first time in nearly 10 years, a direct flight operated by a Saudi Arabian airline landed in Iran on Saturday night, marking a significant step in renewed ties between the two countries.

The flight, operated by Flynas, arrived at Imam Khomeini International Airport on May 18 as part of the 2025 Hajj operations.

This service is part of an agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to facilitate the transportation of Iranian pilgrims to this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

Under the terms of the agreement, Flynas is responsible for flights from Mashhad and part of the routes from Tehran, while Iran Air will handle the remaining routes.

Flynas is expected to operate 224 round-trip flights by July 1, transporting approximately 37,000 Iranian pilgrims, according to Iranian media.

In January 2024, flights to Saudi Arabia for Iranian pilgrims traveling for Umrah were canceled due to "technical disagreements" between the two countries. However, in April, Saudi Arabia reinstated the pilgrimage flights, allowing 90,000 Iranians to participate in the 2024 Hajj.

Tehran and Riyadh reached an agreement in February 2023 to resume diplomatic relations after a seven-year diplomatic hiatus. The agreement, mediated by China during the visit of then Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani to Beijing, paved the way for a subsequent trip by Ebrahim Raisi, then President of the Islamic Republic, to Saudi Arabia.