First batch of UAE Haj pilgrims returns to Dubai

Dubai: The first batch of Haj pilgrims returned to the UAE from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

This year about 55,000 pilgrims departed from Dubai International Airport to Saudi Arabia. Out of which about 35,000 pilgrims are transit passengers, while the remaining 20,000 are from the UAE.

A flight carrying Haj pilgrims which was to reach Dubai yesterday at 7pm, was delayed for three hours due to technical fault.

The Saudi Arabian Airlines flight 747-100 with more than 400 UAE pilgrims aboard left Jeddah Airport at 4.30pm local time but was forced to land to land at Riyadh Airport after 90 minutes due to a technical glitch.

Passengers were asked to remain calm as the plane landed at Riyadh airport. They were informed that they would be shifted to another plane.

"When we reached the airport there were an ambulance and police patrols," said one of the passengers.

The 400 Hajis on board waited at the Riyadh airport for an hour before boarding another flight to Dubai.

According to officials at Dubai International Airport, this was the first Saudi Airlines flight to reach Dubai. Saudi Airline officials were not available for comments.

"The flight was supposed to be here at 7pm but it was delayed to 10pm," he said.

Passengers told Gulf News that some of them on the flight were stressed and stared reciting Quran. While an agitated Egyptian passenger on board began shouting loudly asking those who were smiling to stop doing so.