Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed on Tuesday denied allegations that government officials tamper with the annual hajj quota awarded by Saudi Arabia to the Maldives, insisting that the quota is allocated in line with specific rules and regulations, and that the entire process is free from corruption.
Maldives usually receives an official quota of 1,000 pilgrims for the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. While a portion of this was previously awarded to private tour groups, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu decided in 2023 that the full quota should go to the Maldives Hajj Corporation, following complaints concerning the quality of services provided by private groups and allegations of overcharging.
Shaheem, who was summoned to the Parliament for questioning on Tuesday morning, was pressed by opposition lawmakers regarding allegations that government officials tamper with the hajj quota and allow people to skip the long line of hopeful pilgrims who have been waiting for years to make the holy pilgrimage.
Maldivian pilgrims perform the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (Photo/Maldives Hajj Corporation)
Responding to these questions, Shaheem said that the Hajj Corporation has made “revolutionary changes” to the process to promote transparency and fairness, including ensuring that hajj pilgrims do not get overcharged.
He said that the Hajj Corporation follows specific regulations which ensure that pilgrims get the opportunity to make the hajj pilgrimage in the order in which they make the payment.
Shaheem said that the government has not, and will not allow a specific individual or family to skip the line.
“Never have we prioritized a specific individual or family in allocating hajj quota, and nor is this something policies allow for,” he said.
He said that the people who the public see repeatedly going on hajj are senior officials from the Hajj Corporation and the Maldives Hajj Mission, as well as medical doctors, cooks and other such aides, who go to Saudi Arabia to do necessary work in aiding pilgrims.
He said that officials from the Maldives Hajj Mission do not use the official quota reserved for ordinary citizens, but a separate one.
Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed responds to questions at the Parliament on August 12, 2025. (Photo/People's Majlis)
“I wish to inform you that this is also the same policy adopted by Saudi Arabia. There needs to be a specific number of senior officials in charge of a group of pilgrims,” he said.
He said that their repeated visit to Saudi Arabia for hajj does not mean they are skipping the line.
Shaheem also announced plans to make more changes this year, including prioritizing first-time hajj pilgrims, introducing a quota for pilgrims aged 65 and above, and introducing a five-year cap for hajj pilgrims.
“These changes will ensure that the elderly and first-time pilgrims in the queue are prioritized,” he said.
Shaheem added that the Hajj Corporation is also working on creating a mechanism to publicize the list of pilgrims selected each year for hajj, and also to reduce the price of hajj packages, which is currently fixed at MVR 69,965.