A total of 76 working and retired male and female employees have been selected to embark on a fully paid Umrah pilgrimage. This is part of more rewarding initiatives at Dubai Police as an extension to its strategy for the enrichment of their employees' lives.

The group marked the seventeenth batch in the continuing program. Most importantly, it was the second Umrah trip so far organized by Dubai Police in 2024 as a concern for spiritual and personal growth among staff.

It is a six-day pilgrimage that allows the participant to visit the two holiest cities in Islam Makkah and Madinah.

Abdullah Al Falahi from the Islamic Affairs and Tolerance Section added that the journey was a well-planned schedule with the express purpose of bringing out both the spiritual and practical aspects of the pilgrimage. The journey would take them to Makkah, home of the Holy Kaaba, where participants could carry out the most important rituals of Umrah, while in Madinah they would connect themselves with the historical and spiritual significance of the mosque and tomb of Prophet Muhammad. It has been comprehensively briefed on religious issues, practical issues, and health precautions for the journey. This will be through the physical and spiritual preparation of those people in the journey. The lot will also be accompanied by a highly respected preacher, Sheikh Dr. Sharif Abdullah, to ensure spiritual support throughout the journey.

Indeed, he has been instrumental in preparing the participants by first giving them valuable insights into the etiquette of visiting Makkah and Madinah. He had taught them what a person needs to know about the requisites of actions while visiting these two holiest cities in Islam, which call for respect and awareness in such a visit. He also went into great detail explaining how the framing of one's mind should be regarding the pilgrimage, which is really physical but at the same time totally emotional and spiritual. He explained to them the concept of Ihram, a sacred state that Muslims should enter before performing Umrah. It is entered in special ihram clothing, with special practices and prohibitions such as not cutting hair or nails and not quarrelling. The practices and prohibitions symbolize purity and detachment from worldly concerns, so pilgrims can focus only on being with God. With Dr. Sharif explaining it step by step into the rituals of Umrah, participants could understand better what each action had in terms of religious meaning.

This fully covered Umrah trip is part of an overall strategy by Dubai Police in which the staff are helped to achieve happiness and well-being. Over the past couple of years, the police force has implemented a series of initiatives aimed at promoting personal and professional growth amongst its staff. This spiritual growth and employee appreciation program indeed bears testimony to the holistic approach the Dubai Police take in managing their workforce. Truly, the organization realizes that the key to employee satisfaction encompasses more than just professional rewards and involves attending to the personal and spiritual needs of the staff.

It is more than a hard-won reward for them; it is the venue for deep personal introspection and spiritual renewal. Most of the employees and retirees who have been selected to undertake the pilgrimage extended their deep gratitude to the General Command of Dubai Police as a gift with lots of meanings in their lives. It is not just a break from daily routine but returning to faith and reflecting on the purpose of one's life. Anticipation of participating in this holy journey brought so much joy and fulfillment to the participants, most of whom experienced Umrah for the very first time.