2,000 Maldivians will travel to Saudi Arabia to take part in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, assures the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

While the Saudi government officially gives Maldives a quota of 1,000 pilgrims per year, it decided to double it up last year.

There have since been reports that the Saudi government has scrapped this, however, Islamic ministry’s deputy Shafiu Ali dismissed it.

Shafiu said that Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Ministry assures that Maldives will be given permission to carry 2,000 pilgrims this year as well.

He added that the matter will be finalized “very soon.”

Out of the 2,000 pilgrims, 50 percent is to be assigned to Maldives Hajj Corporation, while the rest is to be distributed after evaluating the remaining companies.

Hajj 2019 is to commence on August 9, and will continue until August 14. However, this may change as it depends on the sighting of the moon of Dhul Hijjah.