Maldivian on Umrah missing for three days

Search efforts have been launched after a Maldivian man who went to Saudi Arabia on Umrah, organised by the Maldives Hajj Corporation, went missing three days ago.

Sources have told Sun Online that the missing person is Ali Abdulla, Laamu Fonadhoo, Haji Number 217.

A senior official of Hajj Corporation told Sun Online today that Ali Abdulla went missing during afternoon prayer on Friday.

Ali Abdulla had not informed anyone that he was going for the prayer, and was not carrying the card issued by the Hajj Corporation when he went missing, the official said.

He added that Ali Abdulla also has hearing problems.

Immediate search efforts were launched yesterday when Hajj Corporation officials noticed his absence prior to the group’s departure to Medina.

Relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia have been informed and given copies of Ali Abdulla’s passport, and work is ongoing to check hospitals, the official said.

Maldives Hajj Corporation has organised Umrah for 315 people, the most by one company this year. One group is already in Saudi Arabia, and the next is set to depart on 9 July.