Hajj Corporation has set an aim to reduce the fees charged from Maldivians embarking on Hajj to a capped price of MVR 50,000. The corporation aims to achieve this within the next three years.
Maldives Hajj Corporation Limited has set an aim to reduce the price charged from Maldivians embarking on Hajj trips to MVR 50,000 within the upcoming three years.
During an interview given to State media while at Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, Managing Director of Hajj Corporation, Mohamed Shakeel stated that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu believed that the MVR 69,965 currently charged for Hajj trips is a price higher than what should be charged from citizens.
Highlighting that reducing the price charged from Maldivians to embark on Hajj is a priority of President Muizzu, Shakeel assured that efforts are ongoing to establish Hajj Corporation as a profitable organization and reduce the price charged from Hajj pilgrims.
He stated that the results will be observed within the upcoming three years and added that the target is for the price to not exceed a maximum of MVR 50,000.
Independent companies previously charged a fee of approximately MVR 70,000 to sent Maldivians to Hajj. Hajj Corporation which is owned by the government charges a price of MVR 69,965 for a Hajj trip.
In order to resolve the surging concern of Hajj companies demanding overpriced rates to send people to Hajj, Hajj quotas have now been assigned solely to the Maldives Hajj Corporation.
Strengthening matters related to Hajj and Umrah as well as arranging another 1,000 slots for Maldivian pilgrims in addition to the currently allocated Hajj quota of 1,000 per year is a pledge of President Muizzu.
Some pilgrims of the 1,000 slot quota allocated for the country had departed to Saudi Arabia on Friday. The remaining pilgrims are set to depart to Mecca within this week to perform the act of Hajj.