Meet Sophia Sarah who offers free Umrah to low-income workers in Dubai

Dubai: Fulfilling a cleaner’s wish last year to perform Umrah gave Sophia Sarah Addas a new mission in life.

Since then, the Saudi Arabian expat based in Dubai has helped about 750 workers travel to Mecca and Medina for their spiritual journey.

Umrah4LaborWorkers is the online platform she established, where community members can purchase an Umrah package for a labourer, who cannot afford to cover the expenses. Once a package is bought, it enables a labourer to embark on an eight-day trip to Saudi Arabia and perform their first Umrah – free of charge. What began as an initiative led by a small group of her family and friends has now grown into a company she established to meet the growing demand.

“Umrah4LaborWorkers is a tourism company. We have 5,000 labourers on the waiting list. Our objective is to send as many labourers as possible to Umrah at no cost to them. We’ve already sent 750 labourers. This initiative started last Ramadan, so we’re now marking our first anniversary,” she told Gulf News on the sidelines of the ‘Health Carnival for the Workforce,’ hosted by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, in collaboration with the Pakistan Association in Dubai. Blue-collar workers thronged the kiosk run by Sophia to learn more about the initiative. During the event, she gave away two free trips to blue-collar workers.

1 million target

Each package includes visa processing, fees, medical insurance, round-trip bus transportation, hotel accommodation (three nights in Mecca and two nights in Medina), meals, clothing, and more. Sponsors can personally see the workers off as well.

“Once someone purchases a package, we send them an email with the worker’s bus departure date and location, so they can come and see the workers they’ve supported begin their journey.”

Individuals may also sponsor a specific worker of their choice, as long as the worker meets the eligibility criteria like a valid passport and Emirates ID, a no-objection certificate from their employer among others.

Currently, Sophia is working to get companies involved by encouraging them to purchase packages for their workers. “My goal is to send one million workers to Umrah. Together, it is possible.”