UAE opens registration for 2027 Hajj season on September 14
Emirati citizens can register for Hajj 2027 from September 14-25, with approved pilgrims announced by October 9. Registration faces high demand amid limited quota allocations.
UAE opens registration for 2027 Hajj season on September 14
The UAE will begin accepting registrations from citizens wishing to perform Hajj in 2027 starting September 14, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat announced on Monday.
Citizens can register through the authority's smart application and website until September 25. The federal entity, established in 2006, manages Islamic affairs including Hajj arrangements across all emirates except Dubai, which maintains its own Islamic affairs department.
An automated screening system will process applications in accordance with Cabinet Resolution No. 32 of 2018, which regulates Hajj and Umrah services in the UAE and prohibits arranging pilgrimage services without proper authorization from the General Authority. The screening process is scheduled for completion by October 9, when the names of approved pilgrims will be announced.
Successful applicants will be contacted to complete required procedures for the pilgrimage, expected to take place around mid-May 2027, though exact dates await confirmation from Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court following moon sighting for the month of Dhul Hijjah.
Intense competition for limited spots
The early registration announcement reflects the significant demand UAE citizens face for Hajj opportunities. During the 2026 season, the UAE received approximately 72,000 applications for just 6,228 allocated spots, resulting in roughly 11.5 applicants competing for every available slot.
These quota limitations stem from an international allocation system established by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in 1987, which assigns countries approximately one pilgrim slot per 1,000 Muslims in their population. Saudi Arabia maintains an overall cap of around 2 million pilgrims annually due to physical space constraints at holy sites including the Plain of Arafat and the Mataf around the Kaaba.
For the 2026 Hajj season, total attendance reached 1,707,301 pilgrims globally, comprising 1,546,655 international pilgrims and 160,646 domestic Saudi citizens and residents, according to Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Statistics.
Enhanced services and preparations
The authority stated that early preparations aim to ensure compliance with the approved timetable while allowing sufficient time to complete arrangements for registration, screening and pilgrim services.
Strategic plans are being developed to provide comprehensive services to pilgrims both within the UAE and at the holy sites in Saudi Arabia, with the goal of enabling them to perform Hajj smoothly and comfortably.
The authority attributed the strong performance of the UAE Pilgrims Affairs Office during previous Hajj seasons to continuous development, regular performance reviews, innovation and the use of available technologies to improve services. Preparations for the 2027 season will build on these efforts, with enhanced focus on improving the overall pilgrim experience and service quality for UAE citizens.
