A Dubai resident’s dedication has allowed hundreds of workers to perform Umrah free of charge this year, ensuring financial constraints don’t prevent anyone from embarking on this spiritual journey. Sophia Addas, a director at Deloitte Middle East, was moved to start a community campaign after speaking with a cleaner last year who expressed her dream of traveling to Makkah if money were no concern.
This conversation inspired Ms. Addas to reach out to family and friends to fund the woman’s journey. Since April, she has helped over 400 UAE workers travel from Dubai to Saudi Arabia for Umrah. “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 explained. “I arranged for an Umrah trip for her, and she came back very happy. It is a spiritual journey.”
Expanding Support and Building a Network
Ms. Addas has since founded a company, Umrah 4 Labour Workers, allowing those who have never been on an Umrah pilgrimage to apply for a free trip to Makkah and Madinah. Individuals and organizations are invited to donate the Dh1,500 package cost.
Though Umrah is not obligatory, it remains an essential spiritual experience for millions, performed year-round except during Hajj. “My target is to send one million workers to Umrah,” Ms. Addas shared. Originally from Saudi Arabia, she has resided 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.”
After discovering that a typical Umrah trip costs around Dh4,500, Ms. Addas connected with the Al Suwaigh Umrah company in Saudi Arabia, which enabled her to organize trips for Dh1,100 to Dh1,500 per person in groups of 49. “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 already made the journey since April, and the initiative continues to grow. “We have 1,500 workers on the waiting list now. Bus number 10 will be departing in November,” Ms. Addas noted. “Individuals can buy an Umrah package for workers, and companies can book buses to send their teams.”
Workers interested in the pilgrimage can apply on the company’s website, which supports multiple languages. Applicants need a valid Emirates ID and passport and must not have performed Umrah previously. Each group of pilgrims is welcomed back with flowers, and WhatsApp groups are organized for their journey. “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 Realized
Mohammed Asad, a 27-year-old office worker from Pakistan, couldn’t believe it when he was told he could perform Umrah at no 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 shared. “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 fulfill 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 living in Dubai’s Al Quoz district, also expressed gratitude for the experience. “Thanks to Allah for this blessed and wonderful experience of my whole life to go to Makkah and perform Umrah. I’m grateful to the team who sent us on this wonderful journey,” he said. “They helped us a lot to enhance and fulfill our spiritual beliefs.”
