Maldivians who embarked on Umrah journeys last month through Mashar Tours, an unregistered company, have found themselves stranded in Mecca with no certainty on their return.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs had revoked Al-Mashar Hajj and Umrah Group permission due to cheque-bouncing incidents. The group, led by owner Ali Farish, had failed to pay for Umrah pilgrims' tickets during last year's Ramadan. Despite this, Farish formed a new travel agency named 'Mashar Tours' and facilitated Umrah trips this year.

About 50 people went on Umrah last Ramadan via the group, which is not a registered agency.

Ace Travels, the agent who sold the tickets to the agency, canceled the return tickets late last month after the agency failed to pay within the stipulated time.

The Group has now asked the pilgrims to buy return tickets at their own expense and the money will be refunded within 30 days. However, the agency's delegates paid for the return ticket before leaving for Umrah.

In a post on X, Islamic Minister Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said he would investigate and file a complaint against a group that is taking money from people and neglecting it in violation of the official rules on taking people for Umrah. He however did not name any specific group.