Managing Director of the Maldives Hajj Corporation (MHC) Mohamed Shakeel has said the corporation is working to reduce the cost of the Hajj pilgrimage for Maldivians to a maximum of USD3,200.
Speaking to PSM News, Shakeel said that the expenditure of the people for the Hajj pilgrimage for the Maldives is a pledge made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. He said he was working to fulfill the President’s request. As such, he said that work is now being done to reduce the price of Hajj pilgrimages within the next three years. He also said the current fare is USD4,500 but he is working to reduce the fare to USD3,200 in the future.
Noting that the MHC is currently running at a loss, Shakeel said he is working to make the company a profitable company. He said that they have started to enter the real estate business. He said that the company also aims to increase its revenue by increasing the number of individuals it takes to Umrah. He also said that efforts being made to increase the company's income by arranging services for pilgrims on behalf of other organisations.
The government has decided to give the Hajj quota only to the MHC to reduce the queue and charge more money for Hajj pilgriamges. Minister of Islamic Affairs Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said that private groups will be given the opportunity to take people for Hajj in the order of those on the list of the MHC.