Iran wins top Saudi honor for pilgrimage services
Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization received Saudi Arabia’s “Labbaytum” Award, June 7, during the closing ceremony of the 1446 Islamic Hajj season held at the Saudi Ministry of Hajj’s main headquarters in Mecca.
Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah hosted the event, which brought together ministers and pilgrimage chiefs from across the Islamic world, IRNA reported.
Officials reviewed the performance of over 80 participating countries, assessing quality and efficiency in transportation, housing, food services, healthcare, and crowd control.
Iran stood out for what Saudi evaluators called “outstanding” organization and service delivery to its pilgrims. Al-Rabiah presented the award and a formal certificate of recognition to Alireza Bayat, head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization.
The “Labbaytum” Award, first introduced in 2023, honors countries that go above and beyond in supporting their Hajj pilgrims. Previous recipients include Oman and Indonesia.
Iran’s recognition marks its first win and reflects what Saudi organizers described as full compliance with pilgrimage regulations and strong operational management during this year’s Hajj.