A Dubai resident helped hundreds of workers perform Umrah free of charge this year to ensure nobody was priced out of completing the spiritual journey.
Sophia Addas, a director at Deloitte Middle East, was inspired to launch a community campaign after talking to a cleaner last year who said it was her dream to travel to Makkah for Umrah if money was no object.
It led her to team up with family and friends to pay for the woman's trip and set her on a path to help 400 more UAE workers to travel from Dubai to Saudi Arabia since April.
“The woman, Khadija, started crying and told me that she would love to go for Umrah. Her answer sparked the idea of helping workers to perform Umrah,” Ms Addas said. “I arranged for an Umrah trip for her, and she came back very happy. It is a spiritual journey,” she said.
Driving up support
Ms Addas has since established a company – called Umrah 4 Labour Workers – where those who have never been on the Umrah pilgrimage can apply for free visits to Makkah and the city of Madinah. Organisations and individuals are invited to donate the Dh1,500 cost of the package.
Umrah can be performed at any time of the year – apart from when the Hajj pilgrimage is observed – and while not deemed compulsory, is a cherished cornerstone of the Islamic faith for millions.
“My target is to send one million workers to Umrah,” said Ms Addas, who is from Saudi Arabia and has lived in Dubai since 2021. “The feedback was incredible. I wanted to give back to the community. It’s a rewarding feeling because we owe so much to the people around us.”
She found that it typically costs Dh4,500 to perform Umrah, including travel costs from the Emirates. However, she contacted the Al Suwaigh Umrah company in Saudi Arabia which told her she could send 49 workers in a bus for between Dh1,100 and Dh1,500 each for one week.
“The price includes everything from the visa, insurance, transportation, food and accommodation,” she said. “Many people wanted to buy Umrah packages and send the workers. I became the connection point between the workers, Umrah company and people.”
Nine convoys carrying 401 workers have set off for Saudi Arabia since April as part of a growing initiative. “We have 1,500 workers on the waiting list now. Bus number 10 will be departing in November,” she said.
High demand
“Individuals can buy Umrah package for workers. Companies can also come to us and book a bus to send their workers to Umrah.”
Workers can apply on the company's website in several languages and should have a valid Emirates ID and passport. They must have never performed Umrah before. Ms Addas sets up WhatsApp groups for each group of pilgrims and welcomes them back with flowers.
“I feel those workers are my little brothers. Providing them with the opportunity to perform Umrah could have a huge impact on their lives and faith,” she said.
Dreams come true
Mohammed Asad, 27 and from Pakistan, works as an office boy. He said he could not believe it when he was told he could perform Umrah free of charge.
“Performing Umrah is my best dream. I was thrilled when I went to Umrah thanks to Sophia. She is a good person and made my lifelong dream come true,” Mr Asad told The National.
“I really loved the way they guided me throughout the trip. I’m grateful to have the opportunity. Any worker who can’t afford to go to Umrah should submit a request to fulfil the dream. I’m grateful and hope to perform Umrah for a second time with my family who are based in Pakistan.”
Mohammed Rafique, a machine operator from Pakistan who lives in Dubai's Al Quoz district, was thrilled to make the journey to Saudi Arabia.
‘Thanks to Allah for this blessed and wonderful experience of my whole life to go Makkah and perform Umrah. I’m grateful to the team who sent us on this wonderful journey,” said Mr Rafique. “They helped us a lot to enhance and fulfil our spiritual beliefs.”
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
New Zealand 15
Tries: Laumape, J Barrett
Conversions: B Barrett
Penalties: B Barrett
British & Irish Lions 15
Penalties: Farrell (4), Daly
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final (first-leg score):
Juventus (1) v Ajax (1), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Match will be shown on BeIN Sports
Biography
Her family: She has four sons, aged 29, 27, 25 and 24 and is a grandmother-of-nine
Favourite book: Flashes of Thought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Favourite drink: Water
Her hobbies: Reading and volunteer work
Favourite music: Classical music
Her motto: I don't wait, I initiate
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million