Maldives Seeks Additional Hajj Quotas Amid Ongoing Saudi Arabian Infrastructure Upgrades

The Maldives is hopeful for an increase in Hajj quotas should Saudi Arabia expand its overall global allocation, according to the Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed. The Minister emphasized that the Maldives maintains close cooperation with Saudi authorities to secure more slots for citizens awaiting the pilgrimage. Currently, Saudi Arabia allocates quotas based on population, generally providing 1,000 slots per million Muslims. However, the Minister noted that additional quotas have been limited in recent years due to extensive development projects in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. He expressed optimism that once these infrastructure upgrades are completed, more capacity will become available. High-level discussions between the Maldivian President and the Saudi government are ongoing to address this. The country is currently grappling with a significant backlog of applicants, a challenge common to many nations but exacerbated in the Maldives by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pilgrimage activities were suspended for three years, with no quotas issued in the first two years and only 400 slots available in the third, leading to long waiting lists. To address these challenges, the government has shifted toward a more equitable and structured allocation system. Quotas are now distributed across several categories, including the general public, citizens over age 65, and 50 slots specifically reserved for those on the poor-registry, alongside assistants and official requirements. Minister Shaheem highlighted a move away from allocating quotas to private companies, favoring a registration system where individuals join a queue via payment. Under this refined system, the government has increased the number of slots allocated to those in the queue from 500 to over 800 citizens, including their assistants. To join the Hajj queue, individuals must pay 75 percent of the required fees, with status tracking available via the Hajj Corporation website and the 'Faheli' portal. The Minister also noted that services for Maldivian pilgrims have improved, citing better arrangements in Mina and the introduction of high-speed rail travel to Medina, supported by both pilgrim fees and significant government contributions.