Dubai Airport gears up for 2,000 Haj pilgrims

Dubai - The first flight out of Dubai will be from July 31.

Haj preparations are in top gear at the Dubai airports as the UAE prepares to send 6,626 citizens on the annual pilgrimage this year, of which around 2,000 will be joining from Dubai alone.
Although pilgrims from all over the world have started landing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the annual pilgrimage, the first flight out of Dubai will be from July 31, announced Mohammad Al Marzouqi, head of terminal at Dubai Airports, during a Press meet on Wednesday at Terminal 3 of Dubai International airport.
A number of officials from the Dubai Airports, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Police, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs and representatives of airlines also elaborated on the measures taken by their teams to help facilitate the Haj travel procedure.
Dedicated check-in counters, special immigration counters and special security machines by the Dubai Police are in place for Haj passengers at all the three terminals of the Dubai Airports, Al Marzouqi announced.
Dubai airports has also set up separate gates for pilgrims departing from Dubai to Jeddah and Madinah.
Urging Haj passengers to reach the airport well before the time of their flight with all the required documents, Al Marzooqi said: "Passengers must make sure their documentation is in place as per the Haj requirements and that they have their valid vaccine cards with them. Also they should be at the airport at least four hours prior to the departure to be able to finish their check-in process comfortably. We are also arranging free medical check-up for them at the airport and will also be giving out umbrellas, Quran copies, chocolates and first aid kits before they board their Haj flights."
Haj - one of the five pillars of Islam - is an annual pilgrimage of Muslims to the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia, during Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. It is considered the world's largest human gathering, recording almost 2.4 million pilgrims in 2018. This year, Haj begins on August 9 and it lasts for four to six days.
saman@khaleejtimes.com

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