The Maldives Hajj Mission has stated that the Maldivian pilgrims have reached Mina and are in good health.
A total of 453 Maldivians have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage. They began their trip to Mina on the morning of July 7 and have reached the tents reserved for Maldivians. Mina, commonly known as the City of Tents, is a valley in the Makkah Province, southeast of the city of Mecca. All preparations have been made for the pilgrims in the area, including preparations related to the security personnel in charge of their safety and the medical staff at the 26 health centres and four hospitals located in the area.
Additionally, 175 ambulances are active in Mina along with 320 ambulances from the Saudi Red Crescent, six air ambulances, and 1,288 health workers. Buses have been deployed to transport the pilgrims and vehicle movement have been banned in the area to make it easier for pilgrims travelling on foot.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has also travelled to Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage and is closely monitoring the travel and accommodation arrangements of the Maldivian Hajj pilgrims. Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Ahmed Zahir Ali is also in the Gulf kingdom for the Hajj pilgrimage. President Solih appointed Minister Zahir as the Amir al-Hajj from the Maldives for this year. Every year, the president appoints a senior state official to act as the head of the pilgrims during the Hajj season.
The Saudi government allowed one million people in the country to perform the Hajj pilgrimage this year, following the removal of COVID-19 restrictions. The amount is less than half of the 2.5 million people that were previously allowed to enter Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.