Maldives working to lower Hajj pilgrimage fares
Minister Shaheem said that the cost of taking people to Hajj will be reduced within the next few years.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
The state-owned Hajj Corporation has launched efforts to reduce the price of going to Mecca for Hajj from Maldives.
An agreement was signed on December 26 to hand over the 1,000 quotas to the Hajj Corporation. At the ceremony, Islamic Minister Mohammed Shaheem Ali Saeed said under the agreement he would give priority to take new pilgrims to the holy land, and at lower prices.
The establishment of a Hajj fund to reduce the cost of Hajj is also a presidential promise.
Hajj Corporation Managing Director Mohammed Shakeel wrote on X on Tuesday evening that the Hajj Fund has started working with real estate investments to make the company financially stronger and is also actively finding additional sources of income for the company.
At the ceremony of handing over the pilgrimage responsibilities to the Hajj Corporation last December, Shaheem said that the cost of taking people to Hajj will be reduced within the next few years.
Shakeel also said that discussions are underway to reduce the cost of the pilgrimage through the Hajj Corporation. He said the government is trying to reduce the current cost of Hajj by further developing the Hajj Corporation and increasing its revenue.
