Maldives and Saudi Arabia have held comprehensive discussions, pertaining to increasing the number of Hajj pilgrimage quotas issued to the Maldives. The discussions were held between President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79).
During the meeting, President Dr. Muizzu expressed his appreciation to the government of Saudi Arabia for its unwavering support in the development of the Maldives. The president acknowledged the close, brotherly relations between the two nations and shed light on key areas which required further assistance, including fiscal reform, education, healthcare and economic development. He also emphasised on matters related to the Hajj pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister affirmed that its government would provide continuous support to the Maldives in various sectors. Indicating a willingness to consider increasing the Hajj pilgrimage quotas for the Maldives, he extended his best wishes for the upcoming sessions of UNGA79.
The meeting concluded with both President Dr. Muizzu and Saudi Arabia's foreign minister reaffirming their commitment to collaborating on areas of mutual interest and further strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries.