Saudi Officials Arrive in Malé to Streamline Hajj Departures for Maldivian Pilgrims

Saudi Arabian officials have arrived in Malé to finalize logistics for the Makkah Route Initiative, a program designed to accelerate the departure process for Maldivian pilgrims embarking on the 1447 Hajj pilgrimage. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments confirmed that operations manager Omar Abdul Majeed R. Al-Daej arrived Saturday night, with an additional 18 delegation members scheduled to arrive on Monday. First introduced in the Maldives during the 1446 Hajj season under the direction of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the initiative significantly reduces travel friction. The protocol allows pilgrims to complete Saudi Arabian immigration procedures before leaving Malé. Additionally, the initiative manages the direct transport of luggage to hotel accommodations, drastically cutting the time pilgrims spend navigating the crowded terminals of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The inclusion of the Maldives in this specialized service follows high-level diplomatic discussions and reflects the strong bilateral ties between the two nations, fostered by King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Maldivian government and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs expressed their gratitude to the Saudi leadership and Ambassador Yahya Hassan Alhqahtani for their ongoing cooperation. As part of the broader Saudi Vision 2030 framework, the Makkah Route Initiative seeks to modernize and optimize the pilgrimage experience for international visitors. To ensure a seamless transition, advance teams from the Maldives Hajj Mission and the Hajj Corporation are currently coordinating on-site logistics within Saudi Arabia. Pilgrim departures are scheduled to begin on May 15. The transport will be conducted via four flights, with capacity split equitably between the national carrier, Maldivian, and Saudia airlines.