All Maldivian pilgrims return home after completing Hajj

With the arrival of the final group of Maldivian pilgrims in Malé last night, all pilgrims who travelled from the Maldives for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage have now returned home.

The final group, comprising 261 pilgrims, arrived aboard a flight operated by national carrier Maldivian. The flight, which departed directly from Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina, landed at Velana International Airport (VIA) at approximately 10:40pm last night.

Upon arrival, the pilgrims were warmly received by their family members at the airport. Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), along with other relevant agencies, facilitated the arrival process, providing assistance with baggage handling and logistical coordination to ensure a smooth experience.

Each group of pilgrims from the Maldives spent approximately three weeks in Saudi Arabia, including time in Mecca and a two-day stay in Medina. According to the Maldives Hajj Mission, this year’s Hajj operations, conducted by the Maldives Hajj Corporation, were carried out efficiently and without major disruption.

Pilgrims once again benefited from the “Makkah Route Initiative” this year, which enabled them to complete immigration procedures in the Maldives prior to departure. This allowed travelers to proceed directly to their accommodations upon arrival in Saudi Arabia without undergoing additional processing at Jeddah airport.

Under the Maldives’ annual quota of 1,000 Hajj slots allocated by Saudi authorities, pilgrims are selected and sent based on an established queue system after completing payment. Officials noted that this year’s pilgrimage was successfully conducted under these existing regulations.