16 parties bid to escort pilgrims on Hajj

16 private parties have submitted bids to escort Maldivian pilgrims on the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage.

Coordinator at Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Mohamed Ahsan reported to “Sun” this Tuesday morning that the ministry was in the process of evaluating bid proposals sent in by 16 private

parties for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage.

“It’s under evaluation. How many parties will be granted the opportunity this time will be decided after that,” said Ahsan.

Saudi Arabian government granted Maldives 2,000 quotas for the Hajj pilgrimage in 2016; half of it went to Maldives Hajj Corporation and the rest to five private parties.

New regulations have been put in place to combat cases of overcharging and insufficient organizational problems from private parties selected to escort pilgrims.