Monday, Aug 22, 2016

Dubai: The first flight carrying pilgrims from Dubai will leave on August 24, said a senior official.

Transit passengers passing through Dubai on their way to Saudi Arabia for Haj have started arriving at Dubai Airports starting last week.

Mohammad Al Marzouqi, deputy head of the Haj Committee at Dubai Airports, said at a press conference on Monday announcing preparations for the Haj 2016 season, that like every year, Dubai Airports has worked together with its strategic partners to ease procedures for Haj pilgrims.

“It should take pilgrims no more than 15 minutes from entering the airport to getting to the departure gates. However, we urge all pilgrims to be at the airport at least four hours in advance,” he said.

There will be counters in all three Dubai Airports terminals to receive pilgrims and there will be signs all over the terminals to guide them, “There will also be trained staff members wearing ‘how can I help you?’ T-shirts who are ready to help the pilgrims with anything,” he said.

There will be golf carts to help transport the elderly or people with disabilities inside the airport.

“We have also dedicated a hotline 04-5055588 for any inquiries regarding Haj flight timings,” Al Marzouqi said.

He added that Dubai Airports will waive parking fees for people picking up their friends and family when returning from Haj.

“Emirates airline has five daily flights to Saudi Arabia, two to Madinah and three to Jeddah, but they have scheduled 12 additional flights to cope with the number of pilgrims travelling for Haj. Flydubai has also added four additional flights and so did Saudi Arabian Airlines,” Al Marzouqi said.

He said that Emirates airline expects to carry around 15,000 pilgrims from Dubai to Saudi Arabia during this Haj season. “Of the 15,000, we expect 2,500 to be from the UAE,” he said.

He said that they have dedicated the closer gates to people travelling for Haj.

Pilgrims, both Emiratis and expatriates with a valid UAE visa, can use their Emirates ID cards to get through the e-gates at the arrivals in Terminal 3.

“There are also six e-gates where pilgrims can use their ID cards at the departures in Terminal 3. We will soon be announcing the service in Terminals 1 and 2,” said Major Waleed Saeed from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners affairs.

He added that the service is available if people want to try it, but there would be no need as passport control procedures will be expedited for pilgrims.

As has been the case for a number of years now, the UAE’s Haj quota remains 4,982 people, according to Bandar Bin Sultan Al Yamahi from the Saudi Consulate.

The ongoing expansion works at the Grand Mosque in Makkah continue to restrict the number of pilgrims that can be accommodated.

Al Yamahi said of the 4,982 quota, 4,631 is for Emiratis and 351 for expatriates.

“We have 164 expatriates registered for Haj from Dubai and the northern emirates. We have received a number of their applications and we are waiting for the others. We urge the Haj operators to send people’s papers as soon as possible so we can have their visa ready before their flights. The last day for issuing Haj visas is 25 Dhu Al Qa’da [August 28],” he said.

He said that all people travelling for Haj need an e-passport, a Haj visa, and to be registered on the online Haj portal.

Badr Al Najjar, from the Ministry of Health, said it is also crucial for pilgrims to get the required vaccinations and to carry the yellow vaccination card with them, so they are allowed into Saudi Arabia.

“People should make sure they get meningitis and flu vaccinations before travelling,” he said, adding that the vaccinations are available at all the ministry’s health centres across the UAE.

He said that the ministry advises pilgrims to drink lots of water and try to stay in the shade to avoid dehydration and heat stroke in this weather.

The ministry will have a stand at the airport where pilgrims can have some basic medical checks.

The Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities official Haj mission will include 65 pilgrims from different Dubai government entities, of which 15 are employees of the department, who will be taking care of the mission, said Saeed Bin Duwayah, a representative from the department.

The mission will be travelling to Madinah on September 9, then travel after 4 days to Makkah and will return to the UAE on September 16.

By Noorhan Barakat Staff Reporter

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