President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has hailed the inclusion of the Maldives in Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route Initiative as a moment of pride and privilege for the nation, calling it a significant milestone in the country’s Hajj journey.
In a message shared via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the President expressed his appreciation after the first group of 235 Maldivian pilgrims arrived in Mecca under the initiative. He noted that the pilgrims were warmly welcomed by Saudi authorities and benefited from a smooth and efficient arrival process—avoiding long airport queues and having their luggage delivered directly to their accommodations.
Dr. Muizzu conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for extending the service to Maldivian pilgrims and expressed hope for a spiritually fulfilling Hajj, or Hajj Mabrur, for all participants.
The Makkah Route Initiative, introduced in 2018 and formally launched in 2019, is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to streamline the pilgrimage process for Muslims around the world. It includes pre-clearance for immigration and customs at the point of departure, allowing pilgrims to arrive in Saudi Arabia and proceed directly to their destinations with minimal delay.
The Maldives is one of only eight countries selected to benefit from this initiative, marking a significant enhancement to the Hajj experience for Maldivian worshippers. The move reflects deepening ties between the two nations and Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to improving services for pilgrims worldwide.
