UAE quota for Haj slashed

QUOTA REDUCED: Only 5,000 nationals and about 1,000 expatriates from the UAE will be allowed to perform Haj this year. (Getty Images)

Saudi Arabian authorities have slashed the UAE’s quota for Haj by two-thirds in a bid to prevent overcrowding at the holy site of Makkah.

Authorities have reduced the UAE’s Haj quota for this year to just 6,000 people, UAE daily The National reported on Monday.

Makkah is a sacred meeting point for millions of Muslims worldwide to perform the Haj, the annual major pilgrimage, and umrah, a minor pilgrimage that can be performed any time.

Saudi authorities are trying to manage the flood of worshippers by reducing Haj quotas for all nations, the newspaper said. The number of pilgrims reached about four million in 2007.

The UAE’s Haj quota was 17,000 last year, comprising 10,000 Emiratis and 7,000 expatriates. For 2008, only 5,000 Emiratis and about 1,000 expatriates will be allowed to perform Haj.

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