The United Arab Emirates has intensified its efforts to complete various procedures and measures to ensure that its pilgrims can perform Hajj this year with ease and comfort.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments reported that a total of 6,228 citizens will be undertaking the pilgrimage this year, with 5,648 of these individuals making the journey for the first time.
The authority highlighted that they will distribute 6,500 copies of the Quran, 6,500 crossbody bags, 6,500 guides for Hajj queries, 6,500 pilgrim maps, 6,500 brochures on Hajj values, and 6,500 prayer booklets.
Dr. Omar Habtoor Al-Derei, Chairman of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments, affirmed that the comfort of the UAE’s pilgrims is a top priority for the nation’s leadership, which annually oversees the provision of all the needs and requirements for pilgrims, from their departure to the holy lands until their safe return home after completing their rituals.
In his statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), he noted the continuous developmental strategy of the authority to enhance services provided to pilgrims and to implement best practices in the Hajj program, ensuring that all necessary preparations and measures are in place to facilitate a smooth pilgrimage experience.
The preparatory Hajj delegation from the UAE recently arrived in the holy lands to prepare for the arrival of the first group of pilgrims and to ready themselves for the official delegation, which includes representatives from various government entities collaborating to serve the pilgrims and ensure their happiness.
The committee has begun its tasks at the main delegation headquarters in Mecca, focusing on administrative and health preparations, as well as welcoming pilgrims at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to facilitate their journey to their residences and ensure their well-being.
The delegation also inspected the UAE’s pilgrims’ accommodations in Mina and Arafat, assessing all requirements against the standards set by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments to ensure the comfort of pilgrims during their rituals.
Additionally, the authority organized the “Emirati Pilgrims Forum” last Tuesday, in collaboration with various partners contributing to the services for pilgrims, attracting around 8,000 attendees.
The forum featured multiple interactive sessions, cultural and awareness platforms, along with an exhibition showcasing historical photographs of the pilgrimage journey of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who demonstrated significant care for Hajj and Umrah matters during his time.
The goal of the forum was to enhance pilgrims’ awareness of Hajj rituals in an innovative manner, improve health, preventive, and organizational services, and strengthen institutional partnerships to provide comprehensive and proactive services for state pilgrims to perform Hajj with peace of mind. The event also aimed to showcase the UAE’s civilized image in organizing pilgrimage matters with support from the wise leadership and inform pilgrims about key initiatives and services offered by the authority in collaboration with its strategic partners.
The forum presented the initiative for classifying Hajj and Umrah campaigns launched by the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments in partnership with the UAE Government Service Excellence Program, to evaluate the performance of Hajj and Umrah campaigns according to a global star rating system.
Last January, the authority signed a cooperation and coordination agreement with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah regarding the arrangements for the Hajj season of 1446 AH specifically for UAE pilgrims during their rituals.
This agreement aims to enhance cooperation frameworks to facilitate the entry and exit of UAE pilgrims into the Kingdom through all crossing points and to coordinate between both sides in various fields to enable the Pilgrims Affairs Office to provide services in the holy sites and ensure comfort for the pilgrims.
In related news, the Emirates Health Services Corporation emphasized the importance of undergoing necessary medical examinations and receiving required vaccinations to ensure immunity and prevent diseases during the pilgrimage.
The organization indicated that necessary vaccinations should be obtained at least 10 days before the travel date to ensure adequate immunity against targeted illnesses.
It also stressed the importance of carrying a sufficient supply of medications, specifically for those with chronic diseases, and advised them to carry a detailed medical report outlining their conditions and medications, as this would aid in monitoring their health if needed.
Meanwhile, several national airlines are preparing to operate additional flights to facilitate pilgrim travel for Hajj and the upcoming Eid al-Adha this year.
Emirates Airline has announced plans to operate 33 flights to both Jeddah and Medina from May 19 to 31, and from June 10 to 16.