Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has stated that opportunities within the Hajj quota given to the Maldives by Saudi Arabia are provided according to established procedures, without giving special preference to any specific individual. The Minister said this while responding to questions from members of the People’s Majlis regarding the Hajj quota. Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said that the Hajj Corporation is an institution established to provide Hajj and Umrah services at affordable prices, and developing this institution to provide modern services is a vision of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
Noting that Saudi Arabia provides a quota of 1000 for Hajj pilgrimage every year, the Minister said that this year too, opportunities for Hajj pilgrimage have been given in accordance with the procedures. In this regard, he said that 850 people have registered for Hajj this year, including 44 individuals over 75 years of age. He mentioned that these 44 people would need assistants and that the opportunity for this is provided for in the procedures, which has been facilitated this year.
Furthermore, the Minister said that 50 people from among the poor have been given the opportunity to go for Hajj at the government’s expense this year. “Out of the 1000 quota received for the Maldives to take people for Hajj in the year 1446, 850 people have been given the opportunity from the Hajj Corporation’s queue for the year 1446.”
The Minister said that as part of the ongoing efforts to develop the Hajj Corporation and expand services provided to the citizens, the Hajj Fund is being managed to yield profits in Sukuk and other private investment products, adhering to Islamic fund management principles. He also said that purchasing buses to be used in Saudi Arabia, building a special hotel for Maldivians in Saudi Arabia, and developing the Hajj Fund in a sustainable manner are visions of the government, as stated by the Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed.
