Saudi Airline Accounts for 74% of Nigerian Umrah Pilgrims
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
Saudi Arabian Airlines transported approximately 74 per cent of Nigerian Umrah pilgrims during the 2025–2026 season, figures presented by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have indicated, highlighting the carrier’s significant position in the country’s religious travel market.
Preliminary figures presented by the aviation regulator also indicated that the airline’s share of the market had approached 100 per cent in the current season, although the NCAA did not provide detailed passenger numbers or clarify the precise period covered by the latest estimate.
The figures emerged during an engagement between the NCAA and Saudi Arabian Airlines at the authority’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, where both parties discussed operational coordination, passenger services and preparations for the 2027 Hajj airlift.
The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, represented by the Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards, Capt. Donald Spiff, acknowledged the airline’s longstanding contribution to Nigeria’s pilgrimage air transport market.
The reported market share raises questions about the concentration of Nigerian Umrah passenger traffic among airlines serving the route and the implications for competition, travel options and service delivery.
Saudi Airline Accounts for 74% of Nigerian Umrah Pilgrims
Umrah, the Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah that can be performed throughout the year, attracts thousands of Nigerian Muslims travelling through licensed tour operators and other travel arrangements.
The NCAA did not announce any measure to address market concentration during the meeting. Its discussions focused on regulatory cooperation, operational efficiency and improvements in passenger services.
The regulator also urged the airline to strengthen communication on delayed baggage, applicable compensation and assistance during flight disruptions. It asked the carrier to designate a customer-service manager to facilitate the resolution of passenger complaints.
Saudi Arabian Airlines’ Regional Manager, Mr. Abdallah Abuleid, welcomed the feedback and acknowledged the importance of improved communication and information sharing.
The NCAA and the airline pledged continued cooperation to strengthen air transport services between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Further clarification from the NCAA on the underlying passenger data would help establish the scale of the airline’s market share and provide a clearer picture of competition in Nigeria’s Umrah aviation market.
