His Excellency Sulaiman bin Abdul Azeez Al-Yahya, Advisor to His Royal Highness the Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Makkah Route Initiative, arrived in the Maldives on 25th May 2025, Sunday to oversee the official inauguration of the initiative. The Makkah Route Initiative is designed to simplify and enhance the travel process for Maldivian pilgrims undertaking the sacred journey to Saudi Arabia.
His arrival marks the final phase of preparations for the program’s launch, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 26 May 2025, at Velana International Airport. President of the Republic of Maldives, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed will officiate the inauguration ceremony, which is expected to mark a new chapter in the Maldives’ collaboration with Saudi Arabia in religious service facilitation.
At Velana International Airport, H.E. Al-Yahya and his delegation were welcomed by the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, along with senior officials from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the Maldives. The Saudi delegation includes several key figures: H.E. Major General Abdulmonem bin Abdul Rahman S. Al Mahmoud, Director General of Hajj, Umrah, and Endowments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Major Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Hallaf, Secretary General of the Makkah Route Steering Committee; and Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed Alakeel, Vice President of the General Authority for Endowment, Banks, and Development Programs, among a total of 18 high-level officials accompanying the Chairman.
Under the directive of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Maldives was granted a special exemption from the standard eligibility requirements to participate in the Makkah Route Initiative. This rare privilege reflects the enduring bond between the Maldives and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and underscores the Kingdom’s recognition of the Maldives’ commitment to Islamic values and its respect for the Hajj pilgrimage.
Led by the vision of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the Maldivian government has worked closely with Saudi Arabia counterparts to bring this initiative to fruition, with a strong emphasis on enhancing services and reducing logistical challenges for Hajj pilgrims. The initiative allows Maldivian travelers to complete all Saudi immigration formalities including customs, visa clearance, and biometric processing, at Velana International Airport prior to departure. This efficient approach is expected to greatly reduce wait times upon arrival in Jeddah and improve the overall travel experience for pilgrims.
A total of 1,000 Maldivians are scheduled to perform Hajj this year, and the first flight under the Makkah Route Initiative will depart from Malé to Jeddah on Tuesday at 3:25 p.m., carrying 234 pilgrims. All passengers will travel under the new pre-clearance system, making the Maldives one of the few countries in the region to benefit from this high-level facilitation program.
The introduction of the Makkah Route Initiative not only reflects the strengthening diplomatic and religious cooperation between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia, but also represents a major advancement in the Maldives’ efforts to modernize its religious service infrastructure under President Dr. Muizzu’s leadership.
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