Islamic Ministry: Discussions with Saudi to increase Hajj quota

FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2019, file photo taken with a slow shutter speed, Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the hajj pilgrimage in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, halted travel to the holiest sites in Islam over fears of the global outbreak of the new coronavirus just months ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage, a move coming as the Mideast has over 220 confirmed cases of the illness. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)

Ministry of Islamic Affairs revealed that discussions with the government of Saudi Arabia were ongoing to increase the Hajj quota for Maldives this year.

According to an announcement previously publicized by Saudi, a total of 453 slots were allocated for Maldives as Hajj quota.

Notably, this is the lowest number Maldives has received. In the previous years, Maldives has revived 1,000 quotas annually for Hajj. Moreover, further quotas with a special permit from the Saudi King are usually given as well.

Though Islamic Ministry confirmed efforts to increase the quota, the authority did not provide any further details regarding the matter.

Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, no pilgrims from Maldives journeyed to Saudi to partake in Hajj for the past two years.

Saudi has announced that for this year, the country will be allowed a total of one million pilgrims for Hajj.

By Nafaahath Ibrahim

Journalist