Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has announced that the Ministry is drafting a new law to formally establish the Ministry’s role within the Maldives Hajj Corporation.

He made the statement while responding to questions from Members of Parliament.

The Minister explained that under changes made by the previous administration, the rules governing the Hajj Corporation were amended to remove the Ministry’s representative from its board, effectively eliminating the Ministry’s role in the corporation. He said the new legislation aims to clearly define this role and ensure proper oversight.

Minister Dr Shaheem noted that the Hajj Corporation was established for a noble purpose, emphasising the need to provide pilgrims with accessible and affordable services. He added that the corporation should also focus on sustainable ventures such as halal tourism. Citing Malaysia’s example, he said the Malaysian Hajj Fund had successfully invested in real estate and hotels, adding that similar long-term investments by the Maldives Hajj Corporation would be beneficial.

The Hajj Corporation is currently working to increase revenue and strengthen its financial position. The company has announced plans to build a city hotel in Maafushi and is actively pursuing projects to generate foreign currency income.

In addition, Minister Dr Shaheem revealed that 15 major projects related to Islamic affairs are expected to be completed before the month of Ramadan. He said several projects are already underway across the country, though some faced delays due to contractors selected under the previous administration.

He added that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu places strong emphasis on the completion of Islamic projects, noting that the Government has disbursed MVR 170 million to private sector companies over the past two years to support these efforts.