UAE Residents Can Apply For Haj For The First Time In Three Years

Exciting news for UAE residents!

Saudi Arabia is allowing pilgrims to perform Haj after three years of COVID restrictions in Makkah. If you want to perform Haj this year, the UAE government has announced the registration dates for residents.

You can now register from February 13 to March 10, 2023, to perform the Islamic pilgrimage this year.

The UAE’s General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (AWQAF) explained in a statement that potential pilgrims have to register via the website.

People wanting to perform Haj simply need to click on the ‘Haj registration’ tab. They have to then enter their Emirates ID and mobile phone number.

Last month, a Saudi minister announced that the Kingdom will not impose limits on the number of pilgrims for this year’s Haj.

Annual Leaves For Haj

Any Muslim living and working in the UAE should be granted special leave to go on a Haj pilgrimage under specific circumstances. Haj leave should be given without pay and it cannot be time off longer than 30 days. It can only be taken once during the employment duration with the company.

Over 2.5 million people performed the pilgrimage in 2019, and in the three years after, numbers were significantly reduced as a COVID safety measure. Last year, nearly one million Muslims performed the rituals.

How To Get A Visa For Haj?

To perform the pilgrimage, UAE residents will need a Haj visa issued by the Saudi Arabian government. The requirements for a Haj visa include a valid passport, a recent photo, proof of vaccination against meningococcal disease, and proof of enough funds to cover expenses during your stay in Saudi Arabia.

Most pilgrims prefer to travel with a Haj package offered by a travel agency, which includes airfare, accommodations, and transportation to and from the holy sites in Makkah and Madina.