Friday 16 / May / 2025
Muscat: Muscat International Airport and Salalah Airport have started to bid farewell to the guests of Allah, the pilgrims of the sanctified house of Allah, who are heading to Saudi Arabia to perform their Haj pilgrimage for this year, which started on Friday, August 2.
Oman Airports had everything set as it always does every year. It formed a special committee to supervise the facilitation of travel arrangements for the guests of Allah, who are bound for their pilgrimage ceremonies this year, and their reception upon the completion of their obligation, with God’s blessings and grace.
Those committees held a series of meetings and gatherings, first with their strategic partners, and then with Haj campaigners, in order to learn about the sizes and needs of these campaigns as well as to familiarise them with the special services allocated to Haj pilgrims during this period to ease the completion of procedures and requirements related to Haj documents and to guarantee a smooth experience.
Muscat International Airport and Salalah Airport echoed with the devotional calls and benedictions of this dignified religious ritual, for the second year in a row.
Private guiding hallways inspired by the atmosphere of this gracious religious occasion adorned the two airports. Also, shoulder bags and UV umbrellas for protection during Haj duty performance were distributed as special gifts to a group of travellers on this occasion, in addition to religious manuals for guidance about rituals in the Holy Places.
In the same context, specific counters were designated to ensure trouble-free travel arrangements for pilgrims as well as special pathways to enter passengers’ hall.
The administration of Muscat and Salalah airports alongside other strategic partners increased the number of employees in order to accelerate check-in procedures, easily and smoothly, and assist the pilgrims inside the two airports.
Oman Airports confirmed that all necessary precautions have been taken for this time of the year in order to serve large numbers of travellers during the performance of Hajj this year, either from the Sultanate or arrivals from transit flights through Oman Air, the national airline of Oman, or through SalamAir coming from other International stops.
Muscat International Airport also increased the number of prayer houses at the airport and provided transport vehicles for elderlies to hitch-hike them to the departure gate. Said airport also dedicated waiting areas for travellers to get some rest while waiting for their flights, a step towards make the journey easier before boarding the plane.
Besides, the whole medical team at both airports isready to its full capacity to serve and receive any cases requiring a medical intervention for elderly travelers or for those who need a special medical service during their travels in this religious precious season.
Oman Airports also designed billboards to facilitate the movement of pilgrims at the arrivals and departures, were it to reach departure gates, arrive at baggage claim or collect ZamZam Water upon arrival.
As usual, a prior coordination was made with the Royal Oman Police represented by the Airports Security General Directorate and Passports General Directorate to make check-in procedures easier on pilgrims at passport control station and to organizepassenger flows at the entrance of the departure areain order to prevent congestion, which requires a rapid passenger’s drop-off.
