Munich Airport makes Muslim guests feel welcome: Airport CEO Dr Michael Kerkloh (left) officially opened the newly completed Muslim prayer room in Terminal 1.
Mohammed A. Al Romaithi, the General Consul of the United Arab Emirates, Ahmad Al-Khalifa, the head of the Munich Islamic Center, and Salah Elenany, the Vice President of the Bavarian Arabic Society (l. to r.) attended the ceremony.
Last year alone, routes to the Near East accounted for some 870,000 arriving and departing passengers at Munich Airport, and the traffic continues to increase.
Serving as a gateway to the Arab world is Module C in Terminal 1, where airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Oman Air offer flights to major centers in the Gulf states.
In addition to signage in German, English and Arabic, the food services in departure area feature halal menu selections.
The prayer room now completes the facilities.
“We are very pleased to see the increasing numbers of guests from Arab countries and are proud that we are able to address their needs and wishes in this way.”
Kerkloh thanked the General Consul of the United Arab Emirates for the support with the furnishings of the new room, where men and women can pray separately.
The decor in the prayer room includes carpets from Dubai and paintings by a Jordanian artist. In his speech, General Consul Mohammed A.
Al Romaithi emphasized the symbolic dimension of the new prayer room at Munich Airport, saying that it is “emblematic of religious tolerance and a deeper understanding among nations.”
He added that this will not only foster mutual understanding between religions, but will also go a long way to make Bavaria even more appealing to the Arab world.