Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is moving forward with plans to install dedicated Islamic foot-washing stations, a project funded entirely by private donors, according to documents filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The estimated $300,000 project is slated to begin August 31 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The stations, known as ablution or wudu facilities, will be located in Terminal D, which handles many of the airport’s international flights, according to Audacy. The project description notes that one men’s ablution station will be added to the existing men’s restroom and one women’s station to the women’s restroom, ensuring the facilities remain separate by sex.
“Project consists of adding Ablution stations to existing concourse level restrooms in Terminal D,” the filing states. Supporters of the move say the dedicated stations will help eliminate the use of sinks for ritual washing and keep restroom floors dry.
The initiative is privately funded, meaning no public money is being used, but that has not spared the airport from a wave of criticism on social media. Critics have taken to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to voice objections.
“The airport already maintains dedicated prayer rooms for Muslims and provides Qurans on the shelves,” one user wrote. “Texas is already one of the top states being invaded by Muslims, with over 220 mosques throughout the state, with more being built…”
Another user claimed, “The Islamic invasion is what will turn Texas blue,” while a third asked, “Texas has been lost. WTF has happened down there?”
The backlash, however, comes as other major U.S. airports have already embraced similar accommodations. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) both offer ritual washing stations for Muslim travelers. IAH announced its own ablution and prayer rooms in February 2024 as part of a renovation of Terminal D.
“The ablution room, also known as a Wudu or Tayammum facility, connects to the prayer room and features dedicated entrances easily accessible from the concourse,” that airport’s press release said. “The ablution room allows passengers to engage in the ritual washing of hands, feet and face before prayer.”
The Houston facility includes benches, coat racks, luggage space, and is fully ADA-accessible. It also offers copies of the Quran, prayer rugs, prayer beads, and a turbah, used by some Muslims during prayer. Airport chaplains worked with Houston mosques to ensure proper qibla measurements, aligning the prayer space toward Mecca.
The DFW project, while drawing online criticism, reflects a broader trend among airports serving diverse international travelers. Terminal D at DFW is a hub for international flights, and airport officials have not yet commented publicly on the backlash.
As the August 31 start date approaches, the debate over the foot-washing stations shows no sign of cooling, but the project remains on schedule, according to the state filing. The addition marks another step in accommodating religious practices at one of the busiest airports in the United States.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/13/dallas-airport-installing-foot-washing-stations-for-muslim-travelers/