Iraq and Syria Form Pilgrimage Committee
A joint committee will assess security and logistics for Iraqi pilgrims to resume visits to Syrian holy sites.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Middle East
Baghdad and Damascus have established a joint committee to evaluate security and operational conditions for resuming Iraqi pilgrimages to Syrian holy sites. Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Tamim announced the formation of the committee following a recent visit to Syria by an Iraqi delegation led by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.
Why it matters
The effort aims to revive religious tourism and strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two neighboring countries. Pilgrimages to sites such as the shrine of Hazrat Zeynab are contingent on completing security and operational preparations.
Pilgrimage resumption is targeted for early 2027, pending completion of security and operational preparations. The joint Iraqi-Syrian team has been tasked with reviewing procedures, but no specific security benchmarks or pilgrim volumes have been announced.
The players
Mohammed Tamim
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister who announced the formation of the joint committee on pilgrimages.
Ali al-Zaidi
Iraqi Prime Minister who led a recent delegation to Syria that preceded the committee's formation.
The details
A joint Iraqi-Syrian team is reviewing pilgrimage procedures and evaluating security conditions, while Syrian officials have pledged to facilitate the resumption of visits to the shrine of Hazrat Zeynab and other religious sites. The committee's work is expected to streamline operational arrangements before travel restarts.
Timeline
Recent: Iraqi delegation led by Ali al-Zaidi visits Syria.
November 4, 2026: Joint committee formation announced by Mohammed Tamim.
Early 2027: Pilgrimages to Syrian holy sites expected to resume.
Travel Outlook
Religious pilgrimage has long been a driver of tourism to Syria's shrines and holy sites, and reviving these visits from Iraq positions the route as a renewed source of regional travel demand. The effort reflects a broader pattern in which neighboring states use pilgrimage corridors to rebuild cross-border tourism flows.
Travelers interested in visiting Syrian shrines from Iraq should monitor official announcements, as resumption depends on completion of security and operational preparations. Early 2027 is the current target, so trip planning before then carries the risk of changing timelines.
The takeaway
Religious travel between Iraq and Syria is being rebuilt through formal bilateral coordination rather than informal arrangements. Pilgrims should treat early 2027 as a tentative target until the committee confirms security readiness.
What happens next
Pilgrimages to Syrian holy sites are expected to resume in early 2027, subject to completion of the joint committee's security and operational review.
Further reading
For more regional context, explore our Middle East travel coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by خبرگزاری بین المللی قرآن (ایکنا).
