Closed Skies on the Way to Makkah: Conflict-Related Airspace Closures and Flight Disruption for Umrah Travellers to Jeddah and Madinah, 2015 to 2026

This preprint is a desk review of conflict-related airspace closures and airport attacks between 2015 and 2026, and what they meant for Umrah travellers flying to Jeddah (JED) and Madinah (MED). It draws on EASA Conflict Zone Information Bulletins, an FAA advisory, airline and aviation authority statements, UK and Canadian travel advice, GASTAT pilgrim statistics and reputable news reports. A dated timeline covers nine episodes: the Yemen conflict, the 2017 to 2021 Qatar dispute, the Pakistan closures of 2019 and 2025, fighting in Sudan in 2023, the Iran and Israel exchanges of 2024 and 2025, the 2026 Iran war and the 2026 Houthi strikes on Saudi airports. The paper then looks at effects on pilgrims from Pakistan, the UK, the USA and Canada, including longer routes, failed hub connections, stranding, visa deadlines and insurance, and gives practical guidance without religious rulings. All sources were accessed on 05/11/2026. The author works for Maqam e Haram, an Umrah company in Islamabad, Pakistan: maqameharam.com