Maldivian pilgrims who performed Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year will begin returning home on Friday, the Maldives Hajj Mission has confirmed.

In light of health concerns, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has urged the public to avoid crowding at the airport and to refrain from organising large gatherings to welcome returning pilgrims, citing the risk of spreading infectious diseases.

According to the Hajj Mission, pilgrims will return in four groups between June 13 and June 17. The first group is scheduled to arrive at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 13, followed by the second group on June 14 at 11:00 p.m., the third group on June 16 at 2:00 p.m., and the final group on June 17 at 11:00 p.m.

The first and last groups will return on Saudi Arabia’s national airline, while the second and third groups will fly with Maldivian, the national carrier.

To minimise health risks, the HPA has issued a series of public health advisories. These include avoiding large gatherings for at least two weeks after the pilgrims return, wearing masks around individuals showing signs of illness, and seeking medical attention if symptoms appear within 14 days of return. The agency also advises against sending children with symptoms to school and discourages contact between the sick, children, and elderly individuals.

Speaking on state media, an HPA official noted that in previous years, post-Hajj periods have been associated with spikes in infectious diseases in the Maldives. The agency’s latest appeal aims to safeguard public health during the homecoming period and reduce the potential spread of illness within communities.

This year, 1,000 Maldivians travelled to Saudi Arabia under the official Hajj quota. Globally, 1,673,230 people performed Hajj, including 1,506,576 international pilgrims from 171 countries and 166,654 Saudi citizens.

The Saudi government also reported that 1,435,017 pilgrims benefited from the Makkah Route Initiative, which aims to streamline and facilitate the pilgrimage process.

Pilgrims are currently travelling to Medina following the completion of their Hajj rituals.