Hajj Corporation Aims to Reduce Hajj Trip Costs

The Maldives Hajj Corporation Limited has announced plans to reduce the cost of Hajj trips for Maldivians to MVR 50,000 within the next three years.

In an interview with state media while in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, the Managing Director of Hajj Corporation, Mohamed Shakeel, stated that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu believes the current fee of MVR 69,965 is too high. Shakeel emphasised that President Muizzu prioritizes lowering the cost of Hajj for Maldivians.

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Shakeel assured that efforts are underway to make the Hajj Corporation profitable while reducing the price for pilgrims. He expressed confidence that these efforts would bear fruit within three years, setting a target for the maximum price to be MVR 50,000.

Previously, independent companies charged around MVR 70,000 for Hajj trips. The government-owned Hajj Corporation currently charges MVR 69,965. Hajj quotas have been exclusively assigned to the Maldives Hajj Corporation to address concerns about inflated rates from private companies.

President Muizzu has also pledged to enhance Hajj and Umrah arrangements and secure an additional 1,000 slots for Maldivian pilgrims, adding to the current annual quota of 1,000.

Some pilgrims from the allocated 1,000 slots have already departed for Saudi Arabia, with the remaining set to leave for Mecca this week to perform Hajj.