The Hajj placement policy has been amended to prioritise those who have not yet performed the Hajj pilgrimage, in line with a decision by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
This policy revision is part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s commitment to facilitate affordable and accessible Hajj pilgrimages for Maldivian citizens. On 5 January this year, the President made the decision to amend the policies on Hajj placement to prioritise those who have not performed Hajj before, with the aim of addressing the long-standing issue of a long waiting period for those who have paid for their place to perform pilgrimage through the Maldives Hajj Corporation.
In line with the President’s decision, the government has now revised the Hajj placement policy such that the Ministry of Islamic Affairs is responsible for formulating all policies related to the issuance of Hajj permits, managing Hajj quotas, and ensuring that all Hajj service providers comply with the policies.
According to the new regulations, Hajj services will be provided by the Maldives Hajj Corporation Limited under the advise and guidance of the Islamic Ministry. The procedures for registration of pilgrims will be specified and a written agreement between the company and the pilgrim must be signed before payment is made.
The policy revision is aimed at offering a quality Hajj service to the public at affordable prices, and to provide flexible payment options where intending pilgrims can pay in lump sum or in installments, as well as ensure the secure management of the money paid by the public for Hajj. It also seeks to reduce the Hajj waiting list.
The main change under the revised policy is the prioritisation of first-time pilgrims. The Maldives Hajj Corporation Limited will also be required to allocate a certain percentage of the annual quota or those who are over 65 years of age who have not previously performed the Hajj.
Among those aged 75 and above who have not performed Hajj, the opportunity to appoint a helper will be offered provided a family member is on Maldives Hajj Corporation’s waiting list and has not previously performed a Hajj. A person who has already performed the pilgrimage and is on the corporation’s wait list may be appointed if no family member meets this criteria.
The new policy also states that a person who has performed Hajj before will be given an additional opportunity only after a five-year gap since their last pilgrimage.
According to the Hajj Corporation, there are currently 9,115 people in the waiting list for the Hajj pilgrimage. Of these, 7543 are under 65 years of age, 1461 are between 65 and 75 years of age and 111 are over 75. Among those on the waitlist, 8,623 have never performed the Hajj pilgrimage before. This includes 7,150 under 65, 1,370 between 65 and 75 and 103 over 75 years old.
The government is working to increase the official Hajj quota for the Maldives as a solution for prolonged waiting times for those who have secured a place on the Maldives Hajj Corporation Limited’s waiting list by paying the corporation.