Maldivian Umrah pilgrims urged to remain cautious in Saudi Arabia
Each Ramadan, a large number of Maldivians travel to Mecca to perform the Umrah pilgrimage.
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The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has advised Maldivian Umrah pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia, and those currently in the country, to remain cautious following developments in the Middle East.
The advisory follows joint attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran on Saturday, and subsequent retaliatory strikes by Iran on United States military bases in the region. Gulf airspace has since been closed, and alert levels have been raised in some areas.
Each Ramadan, a large number of Maldivians travel to Mecca to perform the Umrah pilgrimage.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs said Maldivian pilgrims should contact the Embassy of Maldives in Riyadh or the Maldives Consulate in Jeddah in the event of an emergency.
The hotline numbers provided are:
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Embassy of Maldives in Riyadh: +966 50 689 4477
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Maldives Consulate in Jeddah: +966 53 083 8329
The ministry also said it is working to establish a dedicated hotline to provide information to Umrah pilgrims. Details will be announced once the service is in place.
“All parties are advised to follow instructions issued by the relevant authorities and the Saudi government after obtaining the latest information related to Umrah travel,” the ministry said in a statement.
