His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Muizzu met with His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at Al-Mina Palace today.

During the meeting, the President conveyed his profound gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their exceptional hospitality and support. He also thanked them for the excellent services extended to all the pilgrims who performed Hajj this year.

Discussions centred on strengthening bilateral relations between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia. Their Excellencies exchanged views on avenues to further enhance the existing fraternal ties between the two nations in a manner that would prove mutually beneficial.

President Dr Muizzu was accompanied at the meeting by Minister of Finance and Treasury, Moosa Zameer; Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdulla Khaleel; Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, Abdulla Rafiu; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the Chief of Protocol, Mohamed Shahudy.

The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was accompanied by the Deputy Governor of Makkah His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mashal bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Defense His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Highness Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of the National Guard, His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior Affairs, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Minister of Sports, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal.

President Dr Muizzu and First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed, accompanied by a high-level delegation, are currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. The delegation is being hosted by the Government of Saudi Arabia, in a gesture of hospitality that reflects the close brotherly relations shared between the Maldives and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Maldivian hajj pilgrims have started arriving in Saudi Arabia. The first group of pilgrims arrived on 26th May 2025 at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah. They were greeted by Ambassador Ahmed Sareer, Maldives Consulate staff and senior officials from the Ministry of Interior.

Maldivian Hajj pilgrims received a warm and historic welcome at Jeddah Airport, as they arrived in Saudi Arabia for the sacred pilgrimage, under the Kingdom’s prestigious Makkah Route Initiative. This marks the first time Maldivian pilgrims have been greeted with such hospitality at Jeddah Airport. 

The Makkah Route Initiative for the Maldives was officially launched by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Republic of Maldives during the departure of the first group of Maldivian pilgrims for the year.

Under the Makkah Route Initiative, pilgrims complete all necessary immigration, customs and health procedures at their point of departure allowing them to arrive in the Kingdom and proceed directly to their accommodation with ease. 

The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Sulaiman bin Abdul Azeez AlYahya, Advisor to His Royal Highness the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Makkah Route Initiative. 

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has confirmed that Maldivian pilgrims will now be able to complete Saudi Arabia’s immigration, customs, and health procedures in Velana International Airport before departing for Hajj, under the Makkah Route Initiative. As part of the Pilgrim Experience Program of Saudi Vision 2030, this initiative allows Maldivian pilgrims to proceed directly to their accommodations upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, thereby significantly enhancing their travel experience. The President described the initiative as a spiritually significant and transformative milestone that demonstrates the Government’s commitment to enhancing services for pilgrims.

He made the announcement during the official inauguration of the Makkah Route Initiative in the Maldives for the Hajj Season 1446H held this afternoon at Velana International Airport.

In his remarks, President Dr Muizzu extended his heartfelt appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for their leadership and for welcoming the Maldives into this visionary programme. The President described the initiative as a reflection of the strong brotherly relations between the two nations and an embodiment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s continued service to the Islamic world.

To further support the pilgrims, President announced the establishment of a dedicated Hajj clinic in Saudi Arabia, equipped with emergency medical services, and operated in coordination with Saudi medical teams. Additionally, the Bank of Maldives has raised the international transaction limit on debit cards to USD 1,750 to ease financial concerns during the pilgrimage. President reaffirmed the Government’s full commitment to ensuring a secure, dignified, and spiritually fulfilling Hajj experience for all Maldivian pilgrims. As such, the President highlighted that from this year onwards, Maldivians will be travelling in the high-speed trains instead of the buses.

The President expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Ministry of Interior, the Steering Committee of the Makkah Route Initiative, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs of Saudi Arabia, and the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the Maldives for their relentless efforts in initiating the programme. Furthermore, he expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Maldives Immigration, Velana International Airport, and other relevant local agencies for their close coordination with Saudi counterparts in facilitating the implementation of the initiative. The successful implementation of the initiative, he said, reflects the shared commitment to the service of Islam and the Ummah.

Prior to the inauguration ceremony, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed met with Maldivian pilgrims embarking on the first journey under the Makkah Route Initiative. They also observed the facilitation procedures conducted at Velana International Airport as part of this new initiative.