Image credit: Emirates/Website
Emirates is expanding its operations for this year’s Hajj season, with 33 special flights to Jeddah and Madinah running until May 31, and again between June 10 and 16, to support thousands of pilgrims embarking on their once-in-a-lifetime journey to the holy city of Makkah.
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In addition, Emirates will operate 13 more flights to and from regional destinations including Amman, Dammam, Kuwait, and Bahrain to meet high travel demand during the Eid Al Adha period, as travelers head to summer leisure destinations or visit loved ones for Eid celebrations.
Over the next three weeks, Emirates will transport nearly 32,000 Hajj passengers from key cities across its network, including the USA, Pakistan, Indonesia, South Africa, Thailand, and Côte d’Ivoire.
The onboard pilgrim experience
The Hajj journey with Emirates begins upon arrival in Dubai, where dedicated airport teams assist pilgrims through arrivals, connections, and hotel transfers.
Onboard, pilgrims in all cabin classes will receive distinctive ‘Hajj’ luggage tags and a newly introduced Hajj kit featuring a prayer mat, tasbih beads, a mindfulness guide, silicone water bottles, and cushioned, non-slip socks—ensuring a comfortable and respectful journey.
Special Hajj flights also offer ablution-friendly facilities, fragrance-free towels, announcements marking Al Miqat zones, and curated Hajj content on ice, Emirates’ in-flight entertainment system. Passengers returning from Jeddah and Madinah may check in up to five litres of Zamzam water, stored in a designated cargo area.
Travelers on Hajj flights are encouraged to visit Emirates’ website for the latest travel requirements and details on the Hajj experience.
Eid Al Adha celebrations onboard
To mark Eid Al Adha, flights to select destinations in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, the Far East, and Europe will feature a special festive menu across all travel classes.
First, Business, and Premium Economy Class passengers can enjoy traditional dishes like Lamb Madfoon and Chicken Zurbian, along with desserts such as Pistachio and Chocolate Nammoura Cake, and White Chocolate and Rahash Mousse Cake. In Economy Class, passengers will be treated to Pistachio Cake and Coffee Cake.
On Emirates A380 flights, First and Business Class customers can enjoy a wide array of Emirati desserts and unlimited Arabic coffee in the Onboard Lounge.
Desserts will be served in celebratory packaging, featuring bite-sized delights like Cake Rangeena, Pistachio Rahash Cake, and Date Mamoul cookies.
At the Emirates lounge in Jeddah, First and Business Class passengers will be offered a premium selection of dishes including Lamb Mathlouta, Lamb Saleeg, Henaini, and Cheese Kunafa.
Entertainment and shopping onboard
During Eid Al Adha, Emirates passengers can enjoy over 2,000 movies on ice, including more than 75 Arabic-language titles and new releases like Abo Nasab, Al Mazra’a, and Al Ankaboot. The platform also includes up to 50 Arabic TV series channels and Shahid exclusives such as Al Bath, Trad, and Sadaf. Turkish series dubbed in Arabic, like Tout El Aswad and Al Uqda, are also available.
Additional content includes 15 Arabic podcast and audiobook channels, The Holy Qur’an, and over 500 Arabic music channels covering pop, classical, Khaleeji, Maghrebi, and fusion genres.
Passengers in a hurry can shop duty-free via Emirates RED’s summer catalogue, which features 200 luxury products from brands like Hermès, Cartier, Tom Ford, Creed, and Jo Malone.
Travelers can also pre-order items at EmiratesRED.com, with products delivered directly to their seat. This service is available on most flights and allows shopping from 21 days to 40 hours before departure. During Eid Al Adha, Emirates RED is offering a 10% discount with the code REDMAG at checkout.
