Speaker of the People’s Majlis Abdul Raheem Abdulla has expressed hope that Maldivians travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah will be provided with greater convenience and improved facilities.
Abdul Raheem made the remarks during a courtesy call on Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh, Speaker of Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council, held on Tuesday as part of his official visit to the Kingdom.
The visit was made at the invitation of the Shura Council and runs until Saturday, January 24.
During the meeting, the two leaders highlighted the strong religious, cultural and historical ties between Maldives and Saudi Arabia. Abdul Raheem thanked the Saudi government for its continued support to Maldives’ development and praised its arrangements for pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah.
He also expressed hope that further improvements would be made to ease travel and access for Maldivian pilgrims.
Hon. Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Speaker of the People’s Majlis, paid a courtesy call on Hon. Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh, Speaker of the Shura Council.????: https://t.co/R4FcekPGET pic.twitter.com/NFfb4gBz6V
— People's Majlis (@mvpeoplesmajlis) January 20, 2026
The meeting also covered opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, tourism and renewable energy. Abdul Raheem extended an invitation to the Shura Council Speaker to visit Maldives.
The Speaker is accompanied on the visit by MPs Mohamed Shahid (Hulhudhoo), Hussain Riza Adam (Maafushi), Ali Fazad (Fuvahmulah Central) and Azim Abdul Aziz (Villingili), along with Secretary General Fatimath Niusha, Deputy Secretary General Mohamed Rasheed, Chief of Bureau Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik, and Director of Foreign Relations Zuyyna Badhree.
Abdul Raheem arrived in Saudi Arabia while the Majlis is on recess. He had earlier visited New Delhi on January 13 to attend the 28th Meeting of the Presidents and Officers of the Commonwealth Legislative Assemblies.