The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims are required to undertake it at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so.
It is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.
Under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, and the Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) Authority..
A delegation from the Frontline Heroes Office has left Abu Dhabi International Airport for Makkah to perform the Hajj rituals.
It was in collaboration with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments and under the support of the ERC.
While Muslim pilgrims streamed into the holy city of Mecca on Friday ahead of the start of Haj this week.
Cheerfully, the annual pilgrimage returns to its monumental scale after three years of heavy restrictions because of the coronavirus pandemic.
This year’s pilgrimage will be the first without the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Fewer than 10,000 pilgrims performed the Haj in 2020 and around 60,000 in 2021.
And by last year, around 900,000 made the pilgrimage as Saudi Arabia allowed limited numbers of pilgrims from abroad.
Saudi officials have said they expect the number of pilgrims to reach pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, more than 2.4 million Muslims made the pilgrimage.
The Saudi media ministry announced on Thursday that more than 1.49 million foreign pilgrims had arrived through its international ports by Wednesday, with 1.43 million traveling by air
