Additional Hajj Quota Pilgrims Depart for Mecca, Says Minister

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, has confirmed that the individuals departing for Mecca yesterday for the Hajj pilgrimage are part of an additional quota granted to the Maldives.

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The government had previously announced that the Maldives received an allocation of 1,000 Hajj quotas for this year.

Speaking to the media at the airport before embarking on his own pilgrimage, Dr Shaheem stated that those travelling under the initial quota of 1,000 have already departed for Mecca. 

“The 150 individuals are departing under the additional quota we received later. Apart from these pilgrims, more people will still travel, but they are not under our care or supervision. They have separate arrangements and are not related to us,” said the Minister.

The first batch of pilgrims this year, consisting of 298 individuals, departed on 31 May. The second group of 353 persons left on 2 June, followed by the final group of 339 individuals who departed last Friday.