The Hajj season for 2023 has started and many pilgrims now seek their journey to Makkah, Saudi Arabia. As one of the five pillars of Islam, Hajj is a holy deity which many Muslims fulfil each year. Many followers globally, including the Emirates, have started preparing and registering for Hajj this year too. That said, it is crucial to know and understand the procedures if you want to travel to Hajj from the UAE. We have penned down the details and requirements that will cater to these requirements.
What is Hajj?
Hajj is among the five pillars of Islam. It is a sacred pilgrimage which Muslims must perform once in their lives if they are financially and physically able. Hajj is performed in the last month of the Islamic calendar, Dhul Hijjah, in Makkah, Saudia Arabia. The pilgrimage includes the following rites that are essential to fulfil:
- Intention and Preparation
- Entering the premises of the mosque in Ihram
- Doing Tawaf seven times
- Performing Say’i between Safa and Marwa
- Spending the day at the city-tent Mina
- Day of Arafat
- Stay in Muzdalifah
- Stoning of the devil- Ramy al Jamarat
- Perform a farewell Tawaf
Hajj is a pilgrimage that cleanses the hearts of Muslims and must be performed by believers once in a lifetime if they can. Numerous Muslims gather in the holy city of Makkah to participate in this prayer every year.
It includes people from all around the world, including the UAE. Therefore, individuals in the Emirates who wish to travel to Hajj can refer to our guide, which covers all the essential requirements for travelling from the UAE and its procedures.
How to Travel for Hajj from the UAE?
To perform and travel to Hajj from the UAE, the procedure includes the following steps.
HAJJ REGISTRATION
The UAE nationals can register for Hajj via UAE’s General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf). For details on licenced operators and Hajj registration, follow these steps:
- First register at one of the Awqaf branches spread across the UAE. The authorised registration centres include TAMM service centres, Tas’heel service centres and more. You can register using the Emirates ID card.
- A reference number is sent to the applicant’s registered contact number via SMS.
- The applicants are then sorted out on different criteria set by the authority. The approved applicants are notified after the registration process.
- When the applicants are approved, they will receive a notification via SMS and would then be able to select a Hajj campaign.
- To select the desired Hajj package, the applicant must visit Awqaf’s official website and register with their contact details and Emirates ID number/ reference number.
- After going through the details of the selected Hajj campaign, submit the application which will be reviewed by the contractor.
- After the application is submitted, the selected contractor can be changed within 72 hours before they approve it.
- The applicant must also have the necessary medical tests and vaccines from authorised medical centres.
- When the contractor approves the application, the applicant will be notified to sign the contract and submit the fees.
- The pilgrim card will then be issued to the applicant to perform Hajj.
Note that the cost to perform Hajj will vary according to your preferred package. Moreover, there are several Umrah and Hajj travel agents in the UAE to cater to such requirements. For the residents in Dubai, they can contact the following Hajj tour operators:
- Regal Tours Dubai: +971 50 8474 794 | +971 4 2635 888
- Abdullah Bin Karam Hajj & Umrah Travels: +971 4 228 8575
- Al Reayah Hajj & Umrah Dubai: +971 55 971 1146 | +971 4 252 3130
- Al Hamar Hajj & Umrah Services Dubai: +971 4 396 7711
VISA
The selected tour operator applies for the Hajj visa for UAE residents. The visa is issued by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of the KSA. Besides, Hajj visas are issued from mid of the month of Shawwal to the 25th of Dhu Al Qadah and are valid till the 15th of Muharram. These visas are only valid to go to Makkah and Madina. The following documents are required by the Hajj operator for a Hajj visa:
- An original passport that has a validity of six months. Also, in the case of Expats, the UAE residence visa must have a three-month validity.
- A passport copy
- Emirates ID copy
- Passport-sized photos with a white background. Angle or side-viewed images will not be accepted.
- A mahram letter is required for women aged below 45. However, women older than 45 years can travel without a Mehram if they provide a no-objection letter from their husband, brother or son to travel with the Hajj tour operator.
Since 2017, the UAE government has stopped issuing Hajj Permits to Expats. These permits allowed the expats to travel for Hajj from the UAE. They could stay for 14 to 21 days in Makkah and Madina only. However, the expats need to obtain the Hajj permit from their respective country’s Hajj quota, but they can apply for the Hajj visa from the UAE.
BOOKING AND FLIGHTS
The hotels and flights for Hajj will be booked by the tour operator. The package for Hajj includes the accommodation and services, the premise distance from the Holy mosque, transportation modes and travel class of the airline. All these factors vary with the type of package.
Moreover, the Ministry of Hajj and Civil Defence in the KSA oversees the residence of the pilgrims. The accommodation is accounted for based on hygiene, age of the property, capacity accessibility and quality.
IMPORTANT VACCINATIONS
All pilgrims must be fully vaccinated. They must also submit a vaccination certificate which should be issued no less than ten days before coming to KSA or more than three years ago. The KSA has recommended the following vaccinations:
- Meningococcal vaccine (quadruple) – mandatory
- Pneumococcal vaccine for those aged above 65 or suffer from chronic disease
- Seasonal flu vaccine
MODE OF TRANSPORTATION TO TRAVEL FOR HAJJ FROM THE UAE
The tour operator is responsible for managing the modes of transportation for the pilgrims. Following are the modes of transportation when travelling to Hajj from the UAE.
BY AIR
When travelling by air, you can reach the KSA within three hours. You can arrive at the Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madina. You can also arrive in KSA via King Abdulaziz International Airport located in Jeddah.
BY ROAD
The UAE expats and GCC nationals can arrive in KSA via roadways. They can travel in groups with the tour operator.
HAJJ FOR GCC NATIONALS
No visa is needed for GCC nationals to travel to KSA. instead, they are required to attain an official Hajj permit. Tour operators can arrange “express Hajj” packages for the GCC nationals where they can arrive in KSA just before the Hajj rituals start and leave as soon as they are concluded.
FREE HAJJ FOR SPECIAL CASES IN THE UAE
Certain organisations plan free Hajj trips for UAE nationals who cannot afford to perform Hajj. These organisations offer free Hajj for widowed, elderly and divorced women. They also plan free Hajj for those whose application wasn’t accepted in former years. However, the applicants must be aged above 40 and must not have performed Hajj previously. The organisations that offer such Hajj packages from the UAE include
- Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Centre
- The Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation
- Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation
Note: Visa rules and procedures for Hajj and Umrah might change according to the policies of the KSA Government. For the latest updates and policy changes, check with the Saudi embassy in the UAE.
All in all, these were the details if you want to travel to Hajj from the UAE. The documents and visa details will help you to apply for Hajj. Also, you can travel to Umrah by car from the UAE any time of the year, provided you fulfil certain requirements. Therefore, for such trips, you can look for these used cars for sale in the UAE.
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