Permission granted to eight groups to organise Hajj pilgrimage

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has granted permission to eight groups to organise and take people to Hajj this year.

Permanent Secretary of the Islamic Ministry Mohamed Didi said today that 17 groups applied for the permission to take people to Hajj this year, and that permission had been granted to eight groups. They are Minaa Hajj Umra Private Limited, U S Investment Private Limited, Sisilfaru Hajj and Umra Group, Hamalathul Ihlaasullil Hajj wal Umra Private Limited, Acro Private Limited, Albatross International Private Limited, Athama Hajj Group Private Limited and Zaee Group Private Limited.

Mohamed Didi said that Maldives was given a quota of 1,000 by Saudi Arabia for the number of pilgrims for this year. He said that the eight groups have been given 874 slots, while the remaining 126 slots are reserved for the people who were swindled out of large sums of money but could not go for Hajj last year.

Last year, Maleesha Hajj Group fraudulently collected MVR 11.9 million from 175 people.

Mohamed Didi said that the groups can only charge MVR 67,000 from the pilgrims, and additional funds can only be collected if the pilgrims request for extra services. He also assured that the cases will be investigated if the groups collect the funds and fail to take people to Hajj this year.