Lieutenant General Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Yahya, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's Makkah Route Initiative Committee and Advisor to the Saudi Minister of Interior, arrived in the Maldives on Sunday to inaugurate the Makkah Route Initiative, a programme designed to streamline travel procedures for Maldivian Hajj pilgrims. Set to be officially launched on Tuesday, the initiative is expected to significantly ease travel logistics for those making the sacred journey to Saudi Arabia.
At Velana International Airport, Al-Yahya was welcomed by the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, along with senior officials from the Saudi Embassy in the Maldives. His delegation included Major General Abdul Monem bin Abdulrahman Al-Mahmoud, Director General of the Hajj, Umrah and Endowment Department at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Makkah Mohammed bin Nasir Al-Hallaf, Secretary General of the Makkah Route Initiative Steering Committee.
Under a directive from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Maldives has been granted an exemption from standard eligibility criteria, allowing the country to participate in the programme. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed are set to officiate a formal ceremony at Velana International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, marking the programme's official launch. The initiative represents a significant step in the government’s ongoing efforts, guided by President Muizzu, to improve accessibility for Maldivian Hajj pilgrims and enhance their overall travel experience.
One of its most notable advantages is the completion of all Saudi immigration formalities within the Maldives, eliminating lengthy processing upon arrival in Jeddah. This streamlined approach is expected to reduce delays and improve efficiency for travellers. A total of 1,000 Maldivians will undertake the pilgrimage this year. The first flight transporting pilgrims from Malé to Jeddah is scheduled for departure on Tuesday afternoon at 3:25 p.m., carrying 234 passengers, all of whom will travel under the new arrangements enabled by the Makkah Route Initiative.