UAE Umrah pilgrims return by road after Saudi flights cancelled

Some UAE residents who travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah are returning by bus after their flights were cancelled, with uncertainty over rescheduled departures and the cost of extending hotel stays prompting them to travel by road, Khaleej Times reported.

Why are UAE Umrah pilgrims returning by bus?

Some pilgrims are choosing buses because their return flights have been cancelled and airlines have yet to provide clear departure dates. Travelling by road offers a more predictable way home while avoiding additional hotel expenses.

Shihab Perwad of Rehan Al Jazeera Tours and Travels said some residents were concerned about being stranded for longer and having to pay for extra accommodation.

Have Umrah enquiries fallen in the UAE?

Yes. Perwad said enquiries for Umrah travel had fallen by about 40% compared with the same period last year, with demand declining for both air and bus journeys.

He attributed the slowdown to limited enquiries and flight cancellations affecting travellers from several countries, adding that some UAE residents had postponed their pilgrimage this year.

How are stranded Umrah pilgrims travelling home from Saudi Arabia?

Mohammed Jaseem of Al Shammar Haj and Umrah Service said some Indian pilgrims had also faced flight cancellations in Riyadh. Some were travelling by road to the UAE on visit visas before flying home from there.

He said buses departing the UAE had few vacant seats, but some pilgrims were being accommodated on these services. After reaching the UAE, they typically stayed for a day or two before boarding flights to their home country.

How did one UAE family respond to a cancelled flight?

Souban K, a sales executive at a mall in Dubai's Al Barsha area, said his father-in-law travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah on October 2 and was due to return on October 8 after a six-day trip. His return flight was cancelled.

Although he could have considered flying home from Riyadh, the family opted for a bus because of uncertainty over flight schedules.

Souban said a Dubai travel agent told him that a group travelling by bus was due to return on October 11, so his father-in-law joined them.

He said flights from Jeddah or Madinah were also possible, but uncertainty over schedules and the prospect of additional accommodation costs made travelling by bus the preferred option.