The General Administration of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat announced on Monday that UAE citizens wishing to perform the Hajj pilgrimage next year can register their names starting from September 14, 2026.
The General Administration of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat announced on Monday that UAE citizens wishing to perform the Hajj pilgrimage next year can register their names starting from September 14, 2026.
The administration specified that pilgrims will be selected through an automated verification process according to approved criteria and requirements. In 2026, the country approved the names of 6,228 Emiratis to participate in Hajj. Overall, more than 1.7 million people from 165 countries participated in Hajj this year.
It is expected that the application review will be completed, and the names of approved UAE pilgrims will be announced on October 9; after that, they will be contacted to complete the necessary procedures. The Awqaf administration emphasized that adhering to this schedule will allow for timely preparation for the new Hajj season and ensure the best service to pilgrims both in the UAE and at the holy sites in Mecca.
The registration period for Hajj 2027 in the UAE will last until September 25, and UAE citizens can submit applications through the special Awqaf application and website.
In July, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reviewed plans to improve the Hajj experience for Emirati pilgrims, focusing on enhancing service quality, strengthening support, and ensuring smoother journeys from departure to return.
Sheikh Mohammed noted that ensuring the well-being of Emirati pilgrims—from arrival at the holy sites to safe return home—remains a top priority.
According to Saudi authorities, the deadline for Umrah pilgrims to leave the Kingdom is set for April 7, 2027, before the start of the Hajj 2027 season. According to astronomical calculations, the Day of Arafah, the culmination of the Hajj season, is expected on May 15, 2027.
The Emirate has announced the start of nominations for the first Dubai-it Award, designed to recognize those who embody the Dubai-it philosophy by turning the impossible into reality. Nominations will open on Monday, August 10, and close on Thursday, September 10.
The award, which was announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, in June, will annually honor individuals, projects, companies, and institutions that demonstrate the 'Dubai-it' approach. Sheikh Hamdan noted that the award 'recognizes achievements, inspiring the next generation of transformative success.'
The 'Dubai-it' initiative was launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on June 17. This concept reflects the belief that ambitions mean little without their realization, and speed must be combined with quality.
The Dubai-it Award will be held annually from September to May. Its goal is to identify examples that align with the Dubai action philosophy—actions that turn ambitious ideas into results, achieving them with perfection, precision, and distinction in a short period of time. June, July, and August will be dedicated to receiving and evaluating nominations for the next cycle.
For the first edition, nominations are strictly accepted from August 10 to September 10. The award allows anyone to nominate candidates—individuals, projects, institutions, and companies—whose work aligns with the 'Dubai-it' philosophy. Nominees can nominate themselves or others, specifying the category to which the achievement belongs.
To submit an application, you must visit the website www.dubai-it.ae and enter your email address, after which a one-time password (OTP) will be sent and the application form will open. In addition to nominations, the award team will track significant achievements throughout the year, identifying examples that reflect the Dubai approach to execution.
The Dubai-it Award covers 10 key areas: government, real estate, economy, business, technology, healthcare, sports, education, society, and services. Winners will be awarded in three main categories: Individual, Project, Institution, or Company.
Applicants must provide a complete application detailing the nominee's achievement, its nature, goals, and field of activity, as well as the category. It is necessary to explain the nominee's role in achieving it. The materials must clearly describe the achievement itself, the problem or opportunity that triggered it, the steps taken, the results obtained, and its impact on people, the city, the sector, the institution, the economy, or the quality of life. Supporting data and evidence are also required, including performance indicators, figures, reports, photos, media coverage, testimonials, or any other documents demonstrating the scale, quality of execution, speed of implementation, and tangible effect.
After this, nominations undergo thorough review and evaluation to confirm the completeness of the information, the authenticity of the evidence, and the clarity of the results. The evaluation process may include meetings or interviews with nominees or involved parties, as well as requests for additional information or documents.
The winners of the Dubai-it Award will be determined based on eight criteria: exceptional nature of the achievement, superiority and quality of execution, speed and efficiency of the achievement, alignment with the Dubai action philosophy, transforming vision into tangible results, exceptional impact, sustainability and development potential, and clarity of the model and its inspirational role.
