Ministry of Islamic Affairs has decided to issue all of the Hajj quotas received by the Maldives this year to Hajj Corporation Limited.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Ahmed Zahir Ali said the decision to issue all quotas to Hajj Corporation was made due to the lack of sufficient time for the submission of proposals by private organisations. He said the ministry will publish the policy for the application for slots under the Hajj quotas received by the Maldives this year.
Due to the limits placed by the Saudi government, the Maldives has received fewer Hajj quotas than before. As such the Maldives received 453 Hajj quotas this year, a significant decrease from the 1,000 Hajj quotas the country used to receive prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Saudi government has announced that one million people will be allowed in the country to perform the Hajj pilgrimage this year, following the removal of COVID-19 restrictions. This is less than half of the 2.5 million people that were previously allowed to enter Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As per the announcement of the Saudi government, only individuals below the age of 65 who have completed the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed to enter Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year. Pilgrims entering the country are also required to present a negative PCR test upon arrival.
This year’s Hajj pilgrimage will begin on July 7.