President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has appointed Vice President Faisal Naseem as the Amir al-Hajj for this year.
As the Amir al-Hajj, Faisal would ensure the smooth and safe operation of the Maldivian pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia.
The administration accords high priority to the secure and smooth conduct of the Hajj pilgrimage, the President’s Office said.
All necessary actions are taken to ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims, the office added.
This is the third year Maldivian pilgrims are able to go on Hajj since the Solih administration was formed in 2018.
In 2019, planning minister Mohamed Aslam was appointed as the Amir-al-Hajj while islamic minister Dr. Ahmed Zahir undertook the responsibility in 2022.
While the Maldives was awarded an official Hajj quota of 1000 this year, the government has asked for it to be increased to 2500.
The ministry said the quota could be increased by about 1000 based on numbers approved by the Saudi authorities in the past.
The official Hajj quota for the Maldives has been 1000 for several years. The number dropped to 435 due to covid but was reverted this year.
