High-speed train cuts Maldivian pilgrims’ Mecca-Medina journey from 7 to 2 hours

Maldivians on the Umrah pilgrimage under the charge of the Maldives Hajj Corporation travelled from Mecca to Medina on Wednesday on a high-speed train – cutting down the travel time by more than half.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Hajj Corporation’s managing director Mohamed Shakeel said that pilgrims previously travelled from Mecca to Medina on the bus – which took seven hours.

Maldivian pilgrims are travelling on the high-speed train for the first time, ending this hard and strenuous journey, he said.

އުމްރާގެ މާތް އަޅުކަން އަދާ ކުރުމަށްދާ ފަރާތްތަކުން އުފުލަން ޖެހޭ ތަކުލީފުތަކަށް ވީހާވެސް ލުއި ގޮތްތަކެއް ހަމަޖައްސައި ދެއްވުމަށް ރައީސް ޑރ. މުއިއްޒު ދެއްވާފައިވާ އިރުޝާދާއި ގުޅިގެން މީގެ ކުރިން 7 ގަޑި އިރުން ބަހުގައި މައްކާއިން މަދީނާއަށް ކުރަމުން އައި ތަކުލީފު ބޮޑު ދަތުރު… pic.twitter.com/eCAqqLyR72

— Mohamed Shakeel ???????? (@schakyyl) March 27, 2024

Shakeel said the journey now takes two hours.

He said the arrangement was made following instructions by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to improve the convenience of Maldivian pilgrims.