Maldives Hajj Corporation has revealed the first batch of Maldivian pilgrims will depart for the Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia on June 26.
The Maldives received 453 quotas for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, all of which were issued to Hajj Corporation. The corporation had earlier revealed that 353 of these quotas were given to individuals who were on the waiting list of the corporation, while the remaining 100 quotas were opened for application.
Speaking to PSM News, Managing Director of Maldives Hajj Corporation Ismail Hameed said the preparations for Hajj are in full swing, noting the corporation is working on finalising the arrangements for departure, travel, and accommodation. Hameed said the first batch of pilgrims, which includes 157 people, will depart on June 26. He added subsequent batches will depart later on different dates.
Due to the limits placed by the Saudi government, the Maldives has received fewer Hajj quotas than before. As such, the 453 quotas received this year is a significant decrease from the 1,000 quotas the Maldives 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.