This Hajj season, Emirates is prepared to service a huge number of pilgrims traveling from the airline’s global network via Dubai to Jeddah and Medina to complete the once-in-a-lifetime Muslim pilgrimage. Emirates has worked hard at every stage of the journey to offer a comfortable experience for pilgrims traveling to Makkah for this important trip, both in the air and on ground.
Additional flights to Jeddah and Medina.
Emirates has scheduled 10 additional flights to bring pilgrims to Jeddah and Medina between June 7 and 10, as well as June 21 and 26. These flights were deliberately timed to meet the airline schedules of key markets for Hajj, including Indonesia, Thailand, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritius, South Africa, Senegal, and Pakistan.
The additional flights run alongside Emirates’ scheduled services to the two Saudi gateways, giving thousands of passengers from across the airline’s worldwide network more alternatives for carrying out one of Islam’s most important pillars. To satisfy increased demand for Eid al-Adha in mid-June, the airline has added 19 flights to places such as Amman, Dammam, Kuwait, and Beirut, among others.
The airport journey was seamless throughout.
Emirates has extended its onboard hospitality to the ground with a meticulously planned airport experience, from landing at Dubai International to stopping in the city and connecting to Jeddah and Medina.
Emirates’ specialist teams will help pilgrims through their airport trip to guarantee a smooth transition to their onward flights. Airport Service teams are responsible for receiving, greeting, and accompanying all pilgrims from arrival to departure. Travellers are greeted at the arrival gate by dedicated Emirates Airport Service personnel holding signs with special greetings for pilgrims, and are escorted all the way to the connection desk for their onward journey, or to the Emirates Hotel Desk to pick up their hotel vouchers, so they can be quickly transferred on Emirates’ buses to their hotels for a short break before proceeding to their final destination. Pilgrims’ bags will be labeled with special Emirates ‘Hajj’ baggage tags.
Special presents have also been arranged for the official UAE Hajj flight, which is scheduled to depart from Dubai on June 11.
A Hajj-focused aboard experience.
Onboard, the airline has made additional provisions to accommodate people performing ablutions, including unscented towels and extra blankets. Special PAs notify passengers when they have entered Al Miqat zones (sanctuaries) and signify the change of Ihram robes. Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice, includes a special movie that covers the Hajj requirements as well as advice regarding safety during the trip. Travelers may also choose to listen to the Holy Quran channel or read verses on ice to continue their introspection and devotion. Passengers may check in up to 5 litres of holy water (Zamzam) upon return, which will be stored in designated parts of the cargo hold.
Pilgrims traveling on Emirates’ special aircraft are advised to visit the Emirates website to learn about the entire Hajj experience, from the airport to onboard. Special flights are provided to those with a valid Hajj visa. Pilgrims must also be under the age of 65 and have a valid vaccination certificate for a vaccine approved by the Saudi Ministry of Health. Emirates, in collaboration with Dubai International and several stakeholders throughout the Dubai travel ecosystem, has worked tirelessly to provide a seamless Hajj experience for pilgrims.
