Gov’t to Publicly Name Companies Over Umrah Violations

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced that it will disclose the names of 19 companies that violated Umrah regulations if they fail to pay their fines within the stipulated timeframe. 

Each company has been fined MVR 5,000 for regulatory breaches, while a separate investigation is underway concerning a company accused of fraudulently purchasing dollars from the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) without organising Umrah trips.

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Several violations this year have caused significant hardship for pilgrims. Al-Hijra, one of the implicated companies, arranged trips with one-way tickets, leaving pilgrims stranded in Mecca. The government subsequently intervened, covering the costs of their return.

Public pressure to reveal the names of the violating companies has intensified, with many urging greater transparency. Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has indicated that if the allegations are substantiated, the offending companies could face penalties of up to MVR 30,000. Additional consequences may include the suspension of their operating licences and referral to the police for further investigation.

The ministry has refrained from naming the company under investigation for fraudulent activities, citing the ongoing nature of the inquiry. The company is accused of withdrawing US dollars from the MMA under the guise of organising Umrah pilgrimages. However, it allegedly failed to send any pilgrims and is suspected of using forged documents.

The case surfaced during an investigation into Al-Hijra Travels and Tours, which left 23 Maldivian pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia last December. The stranded pilgrims were repatriated last Saturday. The ministry subsequently fined Al-Hijra Group MVR 100,000, revoked its operating permit, and decided not to issue permits to Al-Hijra or any other companies owned by its shareholders.

A similar incident occurred last year during Ramadan, when Al-Mashar Tours left pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia. In that instance, the Maldivian government also bore the responsibility of bringing the pilgrims home. Following a criminal investigation, the case against Al-Mashar Tours has been forwarded for prosecution.