The Supreme Committee for the Makkah Route Initiative has decided to permanently include the Maldives in the Hajj service initiative.

The Islamic Ministry said today that this decision was made during a meeting held today between Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and the Supervisory Committee of the Makkah Route Initiative, as part of the Minister's current visit to Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry said that senior officials from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aviation, Immigration, and Interior Ministry participated in the meeting.

The Islamic Ministry said that since the past Hajj was the Maldives' trial experience with the Makkah Route, the Saudi government acknowledged the importance and cooperation provided by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Maldivian government institutions, the airport, Customs, Immigration, Maldives Hajj Corporation, Aviation Security, and the public.

The Islamic Ministry said that the permanent establishment of the Makkah Route for the Maldives will greatly facilitate the Hajj pilgrimage journey for Maldivian citizens.

Minister Shaheem has expressed gratitude to the Saudi King, Crown Prince, and the Saudi government on behalf of President Dr. Muizzu and the Maldivian people for making the Maldives a permanent member of the Makkah Route Initiative.

The Maldives was included in the Makkah Route Initiative on May 26 this year.

The Makkah Route Initiative is a program that allows pilgrims to complete immigration procedures for both countries at their home country's airport before departure.

The program enables pilgrims to bypass immigration at Jeddah Airport and go directly to their hotels, while their luggage is also delivered directly to their hotels.