Following an agreement signed today between the Maldives Hajj Corporation and Island Aviation, Maldivian pilgrims will now travel for Hajj on the national airline.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed highlighted that while Maldivians travel to Saudi Arabia annually for the Hajj pilgrimage, citizens have not previously had the opportunity to travel on their national airline.

Due to this limitation, pilgrims were previously accommodated on chartered flights operated by foreign airlines, the Minister explained.

Mohamed Shakeel, Managing Director of Maldives Hajj Corporation Limited, announced that under the new agreement, 50 percent of pilgrims—approximately 500 individuals—will travel for Hajj on the national airline. This arrangement is expected to yield transportation cost savings of MVR 3.6 million.

Shakeel also revealed that discussions are underway with Maldivian airline to extend national airline services to Umrah pilgrimages as well.