UAE pilgrims return home from today

The UAE official Haj Mission is expected to remain in Makkah until November 22 to assure the UAE pilgrims, and supervise their return home through airports in Saudi Arabia.

According to Obaid Al Zaabi, deputy head of the mission, over 2,000 pilgrims from the UAE are returning home on board eight flights, of which four are scheduled and four
additional. Flights carrying UAE pilgrims will touch down at Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah airports early morning today.

Earlier in the day, Prince Naïf bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Interior, received here Mohammed Obaid al Mazruwai, head of the UAE official Haj Mission, on the sidelines of the meeting of the heads of Haj
missions on Thursday.
The meeting was held under the patronage of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia. Al Mazruwaei conveyed to him the greetings and congratulations of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khlifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to King Abdullah, on the auspicious occasion of Eid Al Adha.

Prince Naïf conveyed to him the greetings of King Abdullah to President Shaikh Khalifa, and His highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on the occasion.

Prince Naif praised all those who took part in making the pilgrimage season a success.
He also lauded the big role played by the Haj missions of Islamic countries in developing the facilities for their respective pilgrims.

The UAE Haj Mission carried out an emergency plan, as it advised all UAE Haj tour operators to return to their headquarters in Makkah from Mina to avoid the potential torrential rains and floods as a result of the strong gusting winds accompanied by thunder, lightning and rains.
The mission also evacuated its night camp in Makkah to ensure the safety of pilgrims. —