The Maldives Hajj Corporation has arranged Umrah travel for 28 individuals after a private Umrah group collected money from several people but failed to take them to Saudi Arabia as promised.

The issue surfaced after several individuals reported that a private Umrah group had taken payments from them with the assurance that arrangements would be made for Umrah during the month of Ramadan this year. However, the required travel arrangements were not completed.

In a post shared on social media, Managing Director of Maldives Hajj Corporation Mohamed Shakeel said several affected individuals approached the corporation on Tuesday evening seeking assistance to travel for Umrah.

Shakeel said the corporation arranged visas for 28 individuals based on available capacity and organised all necessary travel arrangements, including accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, meals, and transportation.

The group departed for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning on a Maldivian flight to perform Umrah.

Maldives Hajj Corporation has previously assisted Maldivians who faced difficulties during Umrah trips arranged through other groups, including cases where pilgrims were stranded abroad.