First additional Haj flight takes off from Dubai

There will be a total of 12 additional flights from Dubai to Saudi Arabia for pilgrims during the season

Dubai: The first additional Haj flight from Dubai to Saudi Arabia took off on Friday from Dubai International Airport’s (DXB) Terminal 1, carrying 400 pilgrims, said a senior official.

There will be a total of 12 additional flights from Dubai to Saudi Arabia for pilgrims during the Haj season.

Mohammad Al Marzouqi, Head of the Haj Committee at Dubai Airports, told Gulf News there will be four additional return flights for pilgrims by Saudi Arabian Airlines, and another eight flights for Haj passengers heading from Dubai to Saudi Arabia by Emirates.

“The expected number of transit passengers stopping in Dubai for one day before heading for Haj is 16,000 people,” said Al Marzouqi.

Airport arrangements

All terminals in DXB have been extensively prepared to simplify the process and procedures for pilgrims departing from and arriving in Dubai.

“We have dedicated counters in each terminal for pilgrims alone and signs to help direct them to the correct counters and gates,” he said.

Al Marzouqi confirmed there are eight dedicated counters in Terminal one, four counters in Terminal two, and 14 counters in Terminal three for Haj passengers alone.

He pointed out that a total of 2,500 Emiratis and expats living in Dubai are scheduled to perform Haj this year. “There are 4,800 pilgrims going for Haj from the rest of the emirates, out of whom 380 are expats,” said Al Marzouqi.

Pilgrims residing in the UAE are expected to fly back to Dubai on September 16 by Saudi Arabian airline and on Emirates on September 16-17.

Upon arrival, pilgrims can collect their luggage from the dedicated belts, located closest to the exit gates.

These include belt number eight in Terminal one, belt number six in Terminal two, and belts number 12 and 16 in Terminal three.

Golf carts will be available to help transport the elderly or people with disabilities inside the airport.

“A special team of airport personnel has also been assigned to help direct pilgrims around the airport and answer their questions,” said Al Marzouqi.

Pilgrims can also have a basic medical check-up at the on-site clinic before their flights. “The clinic stall is there to give Haj passengers a quick check-up for things like their blood pressure and temperature,” said Al Marzouqi.

There will also be a stall giving out goods to pilgrims such as hand sanitisers, umbrellas, and small-sized Qurans, he added.

Dubai Airports will waive parking fees for people dropping off or picking up their friends and family when returning from Haj.

For more information on Haj flight timings, residents can call the hotline 04-5055588.