Emirates adds 46 flights for Hajj and Eid Al Adha rush with luxury brand discounts
Special menus and Arabic content enrich festive travel experience
DUBAI: Emirates is scaling up its operations this Hajj season with 46 additional flights to cater to high demand during the holy pilgrimage and Eid Al Adha celebrations.
The airline will operate 33 special flights to Jeddah and Medina, as well as 13 extra services to major regional hubs including Amman, Dammam, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
These enhancements come as thousands of pilgrims and holidaymakers prepare for travel, with Emirates anticipating the movement of nearly 32,000 Hajj passengers in the coming weeks.
Emirates’ Hajj services
The airline’s 33 dedicated Hajj flights will run until 31 May and then again between 10 and 16 June, serving pilgrims from countries such as the United States, Pakistan, Indonesia, South Africa, Thailand, and Côte d'Ivoire. Emirates’ operations team at Dubai International Airport will provide dedicated ground services to streamline the arrivals, transfers, and connections of Hajj travellers.
Once onboard, pilgrims in all classes will receive a specially curated Hajj kit. The kit includes a prayer mat, tasbih beads for prayer, a silicone water bottle, cushioned non-slip socks, and unperfumed towels to ensure comfort and mindfulness throughout the journey. In addition, distinctive 'Hajj' luggage tags will help identify pilgrims' belongings.
Special announcements marking Al Miqat zones – where pilgrims enter the state of Ihram – will be made during the flight. Emirates has also tailored its onboard services to include ablution-friendly amenities and Hajj-focused content on its in-flight entertainment system, ice.
Passengers returning from Jeddah and Medina will be allowed to check in up to 5 litres of Zamzam water, which will be stored in the aircraft’s designated cargo hold area. Emirates has encouraged travellers on these special flights to visit its website for the latest travel guidelines and expectations.
Eid travel with Emirates
To manage the expected surge in travel during Eid Al Adha, Emirates is adding 13 additional flights to destinations with high outbound demand. These include regional cities like Amman, Dammam, Kuwait, and Bahrain, catering to those travelling for summer holidays or visiting loved ones.
All Emirates flights to select cities across the Middle East, South Asia, Far East, Europe, and Africa will feature special Eid menus. Passengers in First, Business, and Premium Economy Class can look forward to regional favourites such as Lamb Madfoon and Chicken Zurbian. Desserts will include Pistachio and Chocolate Nammoura Cake and White Chocolate Rahash Mousse Cake.
Economy Class travellers won’t miss out – they’ll be served Pistachio Cake and Coffee Cake, while desserts across all cabins will come in celebratory boxes featuring delicacies like Cake Rangeena, Pistachio Rehash Cake, and Date Mamoul cookies.
For customers flying First and Business Class on the Emirates A380, the Onboard Lounge will offer unlimited Arabic coffee and a variety of Emirati desserts. Travellers departing from Jeddah in premium cabins will enjoy an expanded menu in the dedicated lounge, including Lamb Mathlouta, Lamb Saleeg, Henaini, and Cheese Kunafa.
In-flight extras
To enrich the Eid experience, Emirates has upgraded its in-flight entertainment selection. The ice system now offers more than 2,000 movies, including over 75 Arabic films like Abo Nasab, Al Mazra’a, and Al Ankaboot, along with 50 Arabic series channels. Exclusive Shahid titles such as Al Bath, Trad, and Sadaf are also available, in addition to Turkish dramas dubbed in Arabic, like Tout El Aswad and Al Uqda.
Music fans can enjoy over 500 Arabic music channels spanning genres such as pop, Khaleeji, Maghrebi, fusion, and classical. Religious content includes Arabic podcasts, audiobooks, and The Holy Qur’an.
Passengers who have left shopping to the last minute can browse Emirates RED’s latest summer catalogue onboard, offering over 200 duty-free products from brands like Hermes, Creed, Tom Ford, Jo Malone, and Cartier.
Orders can be made in advance, with delivery straight to the passenger’s seat on most flights. The service is available from 21 days to 40 hours before departure. Travellers shopping during Eid Al Adha can also enjoy a 10 percent discount using the code ‘REDMAG’ at checkout.