Over 6,300 Maldivians have journeyed to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, this December to perform the Umrah pilgrimage, marking a historic record, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has revealed. According to the minister, 6,373 Maldivians have so far embarked on this sacred journey, marking the highest number of pilgrims from the Maldives to travel in a single month.
Typically, about 4,000 Maldivians make this pilgrimage every December. However, this year’s figures have surpassed expectations, with the ministry estimating the total number to exceed 8,000 by the end of the month. The increase is partly attributed to school holidays, allowing families, youth, and children to travel together.
Most of these pilgrims have arranged their trips through private Umrah tour operators. This year, the Ministry issued licenses to 50 private entities to manage Umrah tours. While a large percentage of Maldivians rely on these operators, some choose to travel independently.
Minister Shaheem confirmed that all Maldivian pilgrims currently in Makkah are in excellent health. He highlighted the ministry’s commitment to ensuring high-quality services for the pilgrims and warned that strict penalties would be imposed on any Umrah travel companies found violating the set rules and regulations. In response to the record numbers, the ministry has also initiated measures to identify and reward the best-performing Umrah tour operators.