President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has issued a directive to facilitate the immediate departure of Maldivian pilgrims whose travel to Saudi Arabia was upended by a confluence of regional instability and private-sector failures, according to the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed.
Minister Shaheem announced that the government is currently coordinating the complex logistical arrangements required to ensure that citizens whose Umrah pilgrimages were interrupted can fulfil their religious obligations. This emergency response, the minister noted, is being managed through a collaborative framework involving the Islamic Affairs, the Maldives Hajj Corporation, and the national carrier, Maldivian.
According to Minister Shaheem, the president has provided explicit instructions to find a resolution for all stranded travellers, encompassing those whose itineraries were derailed by various private companies as well as those left behind following the cancellation of transit flights. The minister further stated that this restorative work is already in progress, with the ministry collaborating closely with state agencies to address the situation.
The disruption to the pilgrimage season follows the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has triggered a wave of flight cancellations and compromised primary air routes. Minister Shaheem noted that, to date, approximately 150 individuals have been identified as being in urgent need of departure.
The minister explained that should the chartering of flights become feasible, additional opportunities would be extended to more individuals as space permits. Minister Shaheem added that despite the limited time available, every effort is being made to resolve the persistent difficulties that have hampered the travel programme.
Public anxiety regarding the pilgrimage has been heightened by a recent controversy involving a private Umrah group, which reportedly collected payments from pilgrims without securing the necessary travel arrangements. In the wake of this issue, Minister Shaheem observed that many affected citizens turned to the Maldives Hajj Corporation for assistance.
In response to this specific grievance, the corporation has already managed to secure visas for 28 individuals. Officials said the state has finalised comprehensive arrangements for their accommodation, dining, and transportation within the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.