Interested parties asked to send in proposals for Umrah permits

Companies interested in sending pilgrims on Umrah under their care have been asked to submit their proposals to Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

Ministry of Islamic Affairs announced this Monday that companies that submit proposals need to fit all the criteria stated in Regulation for Sending Maldivian Pilgrims on Umrah.

The regulation was established to ensure the rights of Maldivian pilgrims and their money are protected and they receive quality service.

Only companies selected by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs are authorized to send pilgrims on Umrah. The permission is provided for one year at a time.

The regulation, published on the Government Gazette on November 2, states five main rules.

The companies need to be registered to send pilgrims on Umrah; needs to be 100 percent Maldivian-owned; the company should not have anyone on its Board of Directors or management who has been convicted of or is in the middle of trial for conning money from a Hajj or Umrah pilgrim, or of embezzling funds received by a Hajj or Umrah pilgrim.

The companies also should not have anyone on its Board or management who has been convicted of or serving a sentence for a crime, and been suspected of criminal embezzlement.

Ministry reports proposal booklets for the companies which fit the criteria will be available from the office from November 27 to December 7. A pre-bid information session will be held on December 10. And the ministry will begin accepting proposal submissions on December 31.

The permission previously received by companies to send pilgrims on Umrah will be annulled three months from the date the new regulation was published; on February 2, 2018.