Hajj 2023 Guide for Pilgrims from UAE

This article is reviewed regularly by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Updated March 2023

Hajj is one of the most anticipated events for Muslims worldwide. Following success in the Hajj pilgrimage in 2022, Saudi Arabia is now preparing again to welcome pilgrims from all over the world to perform the Hajj, including those from the UAE.

Below, we have gathered the Hajj guideline for all Emiratis nationals wishing to perform the pilgrimage this year. Read further to find out.

Hajj 2023 from UAE news – latest updates

The UAE’s General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf) has recently announced that the registration for Hajj 2023 from the UAE has been closed. The committee is currently screening the applications and choosing pilgrims who can be issued Hajj permits.

They also emphasized that the Hajj permit is prioritized for senior citizens and their companions, people of determination and those with terminal illnesses.

Hajj 2023 from UAE dates

Hajj 2023 from UAE requirements and rules

These are a few requirements and rules that have been announced regarding Hajj 2023 in UAE:  

General requirement

This year’s Hajj is strictly for those who have yet to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.

Age limit & testing requirements

Hajj will be available this year for all people above the age of 12 provided that they obtain the basic doses of vaccines approved in the Kingdom and they must present a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to their arrival to the Kingdom.

Vaccination requirements

Pilgrims seeking to perform the Hajj must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with the complete doses of the following vaccines to be able to enter the Kingdom:

• Pfizer/BioNTech. 2 doses
• Oxford/AstraZeneca: 2 doses
• Janssen. 2 doses
• Moderna. 2 doses
• Sinopharm. 2 doses
• Sinovac. 2 doses
• Covaxin. 2 doses
• Sputnik V. 2 doses
• ​Nuvaxovid. 2 doses
• ​Covovax​​. 2 doses

Source: Approved Vaccines (moh.gov.sa)

Quarantine requirements

No quarantine will be necessary on arrival for foreign pilgrims fully vaccinated with vaccines approved in Saudi Arabia. Travellers arriving on visit visas (including pilgrims) must have medical insurance to cover any COVID-19-related treatment costs during their stay.

However, please be noted that upon returning back to the UAE, all Hajj pilgrims may be encouraged to take a COVID-19 test on arrival, a mandatory COVID-19 test on day 4 after arrival and stay in home quarantine for 7 days.

Permit

Worshippers are no longer required to obtain an appointment to pray at the Grand Mosque in Makkah as well as the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. However, if still applicable this year, you may need to obtain a Hajj permit through the online app Al Hosn. 

An online Haj permit service has been launched on Al Hosn App in cooperation with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE). The permit is mandatory for pilgrims flying out of the country for Haj.

Hajj 2023 for UAE nationals

UAE nationals do not need a visa to travel to the KSA; however, they must obtain an official Hajj permit to enter the KSA.

This entitles them to the ‘express Hajj’ packages, where pilgrims arrive in Makkah right before rituals begin and return promptly after they end. The package can be arranged through Hajj tour operators.

Those who have never been to Hajj will be prioritized to perform the Hajj this year. Only those who have received approved COVID-19 vaccines in addition to a booster dose can perform rituals this year.

Hajj 2023 for UAE expats

Given the limited quota, the UAE has stopped issuing Hajj permits to expat residents. The Muslim expat population willing to perform Hajj must obtain permits from their respective countries.

You can still get a Hajj visa from Dubai, to go on the pilgrimage. The Hajj visa for expats only allows entry to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. It is not valid for any other city in the KSA.

Health protocols

Saudi Arabia has lifted many COVID-19 restrictions in the country. Currently, wearing a mask in closed public spaces is not mandatory; however, it is still required for entry to the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, and places for which safety protocols have been issued by Weqaya. Face masks may also be required by some public events, public transportation and health facilities that wish to uphold their safety measures.

The Ministry of Interior has also extended the duration of the requirement to take the booster dose to 8 months. KSA Citizens who wish to undertake international travel outside the Kingdom can now take a third booster dose after 8 months – instead of 3 months.

Proof of vaccination via the Tawakkalna app is no longer required to enter most establishments. Social distancing in mosques and other areas no longer applies.

How to apply for Hajj 2023 from UAE

All pilgrimage operators are required to provide the pilgrims with suitable residences licensed by the Ministry of Hajj and the Civil Defence in the KSA. The accommodation should conform to the standard set by the authorities in terms of quality, hygiene, age of buildings, accessibility and capacity.

Required documents

Hajj rites for this year can only be performed by individuals who hold a visa that is designated for Hajj, or by those who are already residing with a legal residence inside the Kingdom. Here are some of the documents required for a Hajj visa. You will need to provide these to the Hajj tour operators in Dubai:

1. Original passport with six-month validity. For expats, their UAE residence visa must have a three-month validity.
2. A copy of the passport (File type: Images, Word, PDF / File size: 100 KB)
3. A copy of your Emirates ID (File type: Images, Word, PDF / File size: 100 KB)
4. Passport photos with a white background
5. Contract signed with the campaign operator (File type: Images, Word, PDF / File size: 100 KB)
6. Mahram Letter, which is proof of kinship from an accompanying male relative. This is only applicable to women below the age of 45. Women above the age of 45 can travel with a Hajj tour operator without the need for a Mahram, provided they submit a no-objection letter from their husband, son or brother authorising them to travel for Hajj with the group.

Hajj 2023 application process from UAE

These are the steps for all the UAE pilgrims who wish to participate in Hajj:

1. Selection of an authorised delegation
2. Signing a contract with the selected Hajj delegation
3. Presenting the necessary documents
4. Taking the advised vaccinations
5. Receiving the Hajj permit from the delegation

For expatriates, they must submit their Hajj applications to the responsible body in their country based on regulations of the Ministry of Hajj in Saudi Arabia, as applications will not be provided by the UAE. Hajj delegations provide forms that include comprehensive information on how to proceed, where the pilgrim can book his or her place as the first step on their Hajj journey.

Hajj 2023 from UAE packages

Here are some of the government-approved Hajj tour operators in Dubai you can contact for your Hajj packages:

• Regal Tours Dubai: +971-50-8474-794 | +971 4 2635 888
• Al Reayah Hajj & Umrah Dubai: +971-55-971-1146 | +971-4 -252-3130
• Al Hamar Hajj & Umrah Services Dubai: +971-4-396-7711
• Abdullah Bin Karam Hajj & Umrah Travels: +971-4-228-8575

You can also check our article about Hajj 2023 packages and how to obtain your Hajj permit below:

Other than that, you can also book your Hajj packages with the KSA’s approved travel agents in other cities as well:

Abu Dhabi

Abdullah Bin Karam Travel & Tourism
Phone Number: 0097126341902
E-mail: [email protected]

Al-Tawheed Travel & Tourism
Phone Number: 0097126324666
E-mail: [email protected]

Al-Roqn Al Khames Travel
Phone Number: 0097124412244
E-mail: [email protected]

Al-Tayeem Travel
Phone Number: 0097126411008
E-mail: [email protected]

Al Ojoor Travels
Phone Number: 0097165440072
E-mail: [email protected]

Al-Yarmook Travel
Phone Number: 0097126394556
E-mail: [email protected]

Sharjah

Alghary Hajj Umra & Tours
Phone Number: 0097165687117
E-mail: [email protected]

Al Bayan Hajj Umrah Tourism
Phone Number: 00971503005979
E-mail: [email protected]

Hajj 2023 from UAE cost

Hajj packages from UAE will cost around AED 27,500, and it includes a Hajj visa, airfares, Hajj coordinator, meals, tents in Mina and Arafat, and transportation in KSA.

Some travel agents will require a minimum payment of AED 10,000 before you can book your Hajj packages.

Free Hajj for special UAE nationals

There are charitable organisations that organise free Hajj for UAE nationals in special cases. People eligible for free Hajj from Dubai include:

• The elderly
• Widowed women
• Divorced women
• Those whose Hajj application was rejected in the previous year

These individuals must also meet the following conditions for free Hajj:

• Should not be aged more than 40
• Should not have previously performed Hajj
• Cannot afford the Hajj trip from Dubai

People who wish to apply can submit an application via the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE embassies overseas or any of the following organisations:

• Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Centre
• Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation
• The Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation