The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, has denied reports alleging that the duration of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage for Maldivian pilgrims has been shortened to 15 days.

Addressing the media, Minister Dr Shaheem dismissed the claims as unfounded and cautioned against the dissemination of misinformation on issues of national relevance.

Providing clarification on the matter, the Minister stated that, according to information from the Hajj Corporation, no Maldivian pilgrim will be undertaking a 15-day pilgrimage. He explained that those travelling on one of the scheduled flights will remain in Saudi Arabia for 18 days, while pilgrims on the remaining three flights will stay for 19 days.

Offering historical context, Minister Dr Shaheem noted that in previous years, the duration of the pilgrimage was significantly longer, often extending to around 30 days. In recent years, however, the period has typically ranged between 22 and 25 days, depending on the itinerary. He stated that this variation is primarily due to the additional days required to return to Makkah after visiting Medina.

This year, however, there will be a change in the travel pattern. Pilgrims will not return to Makkah. Instead, they will depart directly from Medina to Maldives. Dr Shaheem explained that this adjustment has been made in compliance with new directives from Saudi authorities, aimed at safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of pilgrims.

The Minister stressed the importance of responsible public communication and urged individuals to refrain from making speculative or baseless statements. He assured that any genuine public concerns regarding the pilgrimage would be addressed transparently and through appropriate dialogue.