A few days remain as the UAE will be witnessing a historic meeting of the UAE’s leaders, religious heads, with Pope Francis this coming February 3. The UAE Papal Visit will be the first time that a Pope will be heading to the MENA region, in time for the UAE’s Year of Tolerance and as part of the celebrations for the “International Interfaith Meeting on Human Fraternity”.
The short, yet meaningful 3-day visit of the Pope culminates with the Papal Mass expected to draw in more than 125,000 people from the UAE, MENA, and even from visitors outside the country.
Expecting such a huge attendance, the UAE Papal Visit team has posted several rules to take note on transportation as well as for the venue.
When the parishes release the tickets, each of those selected to attend the mass will receive one ‘Entry Ticket’, and one ‘Transport Ticket’ that they should bring with them at all times together with their Emirates ID and should select an ‘Access Hub’ where they will come from.
Here are the rules prepared as per the UAE Papal Visit website:
Government – Sponsored Transportation
Faithful attending the Papal Mass will receive one ENTRY TICKET and one TRANSPORT TICKET. The transport ticket will have the Access Hub location and departure time. Faithful should choose their Access Hub at the time of collection of tickets. The locations available for each parish will be announced shortly.
– Faithful should select their designated Access Hub
– Faithful should arrange their own travel to the assigned Access Hub
– Faithful should leave their homes early, and arrive at the Access Hub early to guarantee a seat on the buses
– Changing your Access Hub is not allowed
– Faithful should bring BOTH tickets – no ticket, no travel
Private Transportation – Yas Gateway Park
Should you prefer to drive on your own, you should select a Transport Ticket for Yas Gateway Access Hub, located on Yas Island, where you will be able to park your car and take the available shuttle bus service. Timings will be indicated on your Transport Ticket.
No private vehicles will be allowed to enter into Abu Dhabi Island on February 5, 2019.
Previous Day Arrival at Abu Dhabi and Dubai and international guests
Those who plan to travel to Abu Dhabi / Dubai on or before February 4 and use the Abu Dhabi or Dubai Access Hubs, should have valid Transport Ticket for the Access Hub they wish to use. Only limited coupons will be available for this option.
Faithful from the Abu Dhabi who prefer to walk to the venue, may do so. But please follow the police guidance. Advisable to carry Emirates ID along with your tickets.
General Information
Parish coordinators should advise the total number of genuinely disabled, old and pregnant who need special assistance. This information shall be provided to the logistics team well in advance. Please note such services will be available only for a very limited number of attendees.
There will be soft check at the Access Hub and only those with a valid Transport Ticket and Entry Ticket will be allowed onto the bus without exception. Children above 2 years should have valid tickets for security reasons.
– Food and beverages will be allowed on the bus. No food or beverages will be allowed inside the venue. Free water will be available inside the venue. Patients and children may carry essential medicine and food subject to security clearance.
– Faithful are requested to follow the sign boards directing them to their allocated area as mentioned on their ticket. They should be prepared to walk up to 3km from the drop off point to the venue.
– Attendees should be prepared to spend approximately of 5 hours in the venue. Pre and post programmes are being arranged. Food will be available for sale after the Mass in the venue.
– International participants choosing to use the transportation system should collect Transport Tickets from Dubai or Abu Dhabi parishes when they collect their Entry Ticket.
– All the faithful should remain quiet during the Mass. They shall carefully listen to the Exit plan at the venue by following announcements made.
– Umbrellas, flags, banners and selfie sticks are not allowed inside the venue.
– Folding chairs or stools are permitted for the OUTSIDE venue.
As of press time, no tickets have been released yet for the Papal Visit to the faithful. All those who have successfully registered are advised to monitor the announcements through the websites, as well as through the announcements made during the daily mass of their respective parishes.
