Government arranges chartered flight to take remaining pilgrims on umrah

Government has arranged a chartered flight from Maldivian to take the pilgrims unable to make the trip over various reasons – including visa issues – on umrah to Saudi Arabia.

Ministry of Islamic Affairs reports that it arranged a 200-seat flight from Maldivian to transport pilgrims from private hajj and umrah groups unable to make the journey.

It said that the flight was scheduled to leave at 4 pm, this Sunday.

Some pilgrims who made the payment to private hajj and umrah groups to participate in umrah were unable to make the journey due to visa-related issued.

Asko Hajj and Umrah reported on Saturday night that 38 of their clients were unable to board the flight scheduled for that day.

Ministry of Islamic Affairs reported that visas for the pilgrims were arranged through the Saudi Arabian embassy in Maldives. And that the issues had arisen due to delays in paperwork.