Operational Status: Camps for United Arab Emirates pilgrims in Mina and Arafat during Saudi Arabia's Hajj season are fully functional and ready to accommodate.
The UAE Hajj Affairs Office has announced the trial operations of its pilgrim camps in Mina and Arafat, marking a significant milestone in the preparations for the 2025 Hajj season. The upgraded facilities and comprehensive services will cater to approximately 6,228 pilgrims from the UAE, ensuring a comfortable, safe, and spiritually enriching pilgrimage experience.
The camps have been equipped with advanced infrastructure, including cutting-edge air conditioning systems, upgraded catering equipment, and extensive medical and administrative services, designed to function smoothly under high-capacity conditions. Environmental conditions have also been improved with the installation of shaded walkways, landscaping, and modern misting fans to counteract extreme temperatures and prevent heat-related illnesses.
Among this year's developments is the construction of a new mosque accommodating over 400 worshippers and the fitting of Arafat camps with dedicated prayer rooms, each equipped with high-quality audio and video systems for broadcasting the Arafat sermon and prayers. These improvements aim to enable pilgrims to participate fully in the spiritual aspects of Hajj without any logistical constraints or discomfort.
Dr. Omar Habtoor Al Darei, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat, and Chairman of the UAE Hajj Affairs Office, praised the rapid and efficient completion of preparations. The UAE Pilgrims Affairs Office has been maintaining round-the-clock monitoring of all services, including accommodation, healthcare, transport, and food provision, in accordance with the UAE's stringent quality standards.
Ahmed Rashid Al Neyadi, Director-General of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments and Zakat, confirmed that preparations are progressing steadily, with an emphasis on enhancing the efficiency and reliability of services to enable pilgrims to carry out their religious duties with ease and minimal disruption.
Additional infrastructure upgrades include the installation of a third power station to ensure continuous electrical supply and the construction of an additional prayer area accommodating 400 worshippers in Arafat, among other improvements aimed at providing a comfortable environment for pilgrims. Over 6,500 copies of the Holy Qur'an, crossbody bags, maps, Hajj guides, and relevant booklets have been distributed to assist pilgrims during their spiritual journey.
The first wave of UAE representatives has already arrived in Saudi Arabia for on-ground operations, leading administrative, medical, and logistical services and receiving early-arriving pilgrims at Jeddah International Airport, among other tasks. Inspections of the camps in Mina and Arafat have been conducted to verify compliance with the standards set by the UAE's religious and governmental bodies.
The UAE Hajj Committee will continue to oversee the readiness of all facilities, addressing every aspect of the Hajj experience with diligence and care to ensure the safety, honor, and spiritual well-being of the pilgrims throughout their sacred journey.
- To maintain optimal health for pilgrims during the Hajj season, the UAE Pilgrims Affairs Office has installed modern misting fans and shaded walkways in the camps to combat extreme temperatures and prevent heat-related illnesses.
- A focus on lifestyle and comfort is evident in the construction of additional prayer areas and the distribution of amenities such as crossbody bags, maps, and Hajj guides to UAE pilgrims.
- As part of the concerted effort to conserve the environment during the Hajj season, the camps have been upgraded with advanced infrastructure, including a third power station and landscaping, ensuring minimal environmental impact.
