Tourism & Hospitality | Friday 13 September, 2019 3:28 am |

During this year’s Hajj DHL Express Saudi Arabia distributed hundreds of thousands of umbrellas to pilgrims, with teams of dedicated staff members working from 20 trucks located in Mina and Arafat.

 

This is the sixth year in a row DHL Express has implemented its much appreciated social responsibility initiative and during this year’s Hajj the company distributed 50 percent more umbrellas than last year to help protect pilgrims by shading them from the blazing sun, as well as shielding them from the rain which this year fell very heavily on Arafat.

 

Because of the complex logistics involved, preparations for the Hajj 2019 distribution started in November 2018 with the DHL team sourcing the supplier of the umbrellas, then organising the transportation to Makkah before the start of Hajj and arranging for internal and external teams to manage the distribution in Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat, both before and on Arafat day.  

 

Due to the strong demand, particular attention was paid to the procedure of handing out the umbrellas in a carefully controlled and orderly way to ensure the safety of pilgrims during the distribution process.

 

“Our position as a regional logistics leader means we have the infrastructure, the know-how and the opportunity to deliver a project this size and it is a logistical challenge that we are proud to manage successfully year after year,” said Nour Suliman, CEO DHL Express Middle East and North Africa, “With a project like Hajj timing is everything. Our objective was to deliver support for the pilgrims and by being in the right place at the right time we triumphantly succeeded in accomplishing our mission.”

 

“As the logistics provider of choice, a favourite employer and a major investor in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, DHL Express is committed to its social responsibility programs across every country including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and during Hajj we are deeply honoured to contribute to the care and welfare of the pilgrims who come here to fulfil their most sacred religious duty.” added Faysal El Hajjami, Country General Manager DHL Express Saudi Arabia.