The flight with the last group of Maldivian pilgrims going to Hajj has departed.
The Islamic Ministry has stated that the 253 pilgrims departed earlier this morning.
As all of the pilgrims have been flown to Hajj by national airline Maldivian and Saudi Airlines, 500 pilgrims were flown to Hajj by a Maldivian flight as per the quota granted to Maldives.
The rest of the 500 pilgrims were taken by Saudi Airlines.
2026 flights that flew pilgrims
- First flight: 238 pilgrims
- Second flight: 260 pilgrims
- Third flight: 268 pilgrims
- Today's flight: 253 pilgrims
Pilgrims traveling from Maldives this year were flown out via arrangements made through the Makkah route, same as last year.
The Makkah route, which offers an ease of completing the airport and immigration procedures for pilgrims, offers at least 20,000 pilgrims the chance to go to Hajj in one go, with Saudi Arabia granting Maldives that opportunity as well. Maldives has a quota of 1,000 pilgrims per year.
The Makkah Route Initiative aims to streamline immigration procedures for Hajj pilgrims at their departure point.
This eliminates waiting time at Jeddah airport and allows pilgrims to directly go to their hotels with their luggage.
The Hajj Corporation has said previously that Maldivian pilgrims will be spending 22 days at Hajj for the current pilgrimage. Once the pilgrimage concludes, the Maldivian pilgrims will begin their departure from Makkah and arrival to Maldives from 5th June onward.
