Maldivian pilgrims heading to Saudi Arabia for Hajj will now benefit from faster, smoother travel procedures, as the Maldives has been officially included in the Kingdom’s prestigious Makkah Route Initiative.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, which stated that the inclusion of Maldives in the initiative will significantly streamline the pilgrimage journey. Under the new system, Maldivian pilgrims will be able to complete key immigration and logistics procedures at home, allowing them to bypass long queues and formalities upon arrival in Jeddah.
With this move, Maldives becomes the latest country to benefit from the programme, which already includes several Muslim-majority nations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan. The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to modernise and simplify the Hajj experience.
Speaking on the development, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed expressed gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, along with the Saudi Ministry of Interior, for facilitating the Maldives’ participation.
Launched in 2017, the Makkah Route Initiative enables pilgrims to finalise travel-related procedures—including visa issuance, biometric registration, and health clearances—before departing from their home country. In the Maldives, these pre-departure steps will be handled at Velana International Airport.
Pilgrims’ luggage will be tagged and processed before departure, boarding passes will be issued, and a designated passport control team will clear all Saudi entry requirements on-site. Upon landing in Saudi Arabia, pilgrims will proceed directly to their hotels without stopping at immigration counters, and their luggage will be transported straight to their accommodations.
Officials said the initiative is expected to enhance the spiritual experience by removing logistical stress and delays commonly associated with international travel during Hajj.
The Maldives’ inclusion reflects an ongoing commitment by both the Maldivian and Saudi governments to make the pilgrimage more accessible and dignified for Maldivian citizens.
