Advisor to HRH the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Makkah Route Initiative pays courtesy call on the President

Advisor to His Royal Highness the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Makkah Route Initiative, His Excellency Sulaiman bin Abdul Azeez Al Yahya, paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. The meeting was held at Velana International Airport.

During the call, the President expressed his gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the Government of Saudi Arabia for selecting the Maldives as one of the countries to implement the Makkah Route Initiative. The President emphasised that the decision to include the Maldives reflects the high regard Saudi Arabia places on its relationship with the Maldives.

Speaking at the call the His Excellency Sulaiman bin Abdul Azeez Al Yahya, noted that the inclusion of the Maldives in the Makkah Route Initiative was made under the direct instructions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, with the directive to ensure its implementation this year without fail. He commended the Maldives for being a well-disciplined nation and stated that the administration has demonstrated it is well-deserving of this initiative, especially through its management of Hajj operations in previous years.

The Makkah Route Initiative will provide substantial logistical ease for Maldivian Hajj pilgrims as their visa processing and immigration procedures will be completed at Velana International Airport before departure without delay, and arrangements will be in place for their airport transfer straight to the hotel on arrival in Mecca and luggage delivery all without having to queue up at immigration counters or baggage claims.

This initiative marks a major milestone in enhancing the Hajj experience for Maldivian pilgrims and deepens the long-standing ties between the Maldives and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.