Saudi Arabia has granted permission for Maldives to send additional 1000 pilgrims to Mecca for Hajj pilgrimage.

While President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced this at Thursday’s press conference, Islamic Minister Dr. Ahmed Zahir said that they have since begun work to distribute the additional 1,000 among those authorized to carry pilgrims this year.

The minister first announced Saudi Arabia’s decision to increase Hajj quotas to Maldives, in April.

The official quota allocated from Saudi to Maldives is 1,000. However, in some cases, an additional 1,000 has been granted.

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.

A total of six companies were given the license to carry pilgrims to Hajj this year. They are; Maldives Hajj Corporation, Acro Pvt Ltd, Mina Hajj Umrah Pvt Ltd, Al-Haramain Hajj and Umrah Company Pvt Ltd, ZAEE GROUP Pvt Ltd and Thazkiya Pvt Ltd.

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.