News Desk
The government has decided to allocate one-third of the country’s official Hajj quota to pilgrims aged 70 and above who have been on the waiting list for at least three years.
Under this policy, a total of 324 elderly citizens will perform the Hajj pilgrimage this year, according to Mohamed Firozul Abdul Khaleel, Managing Director of the Maldives Hajj Corporation.
Speaking about the decision, Firozul highlighted that the policy aims to make it easier for senior citizens to fulfill their religious duty. The selected group includes 86 individuals aged 75 and above, all of whom will be permitted to travel alongside a family member for assistance.
“Eligible elderly pilgrims include those aged 70 and older—as of 31 December 2026—who had paid their Hajj fees by 31 December 2023,” Firozull explained.
The Hajj Corporation assured that this arrangement will not adversely affect other individuals on the waiting list. Furthermore, the implementation of this policy will not delay opportunities for pilgrims aged 65 to 69 expected to perform Hajj in 1448 AH. Arrangements have also been made to ensure that registered family members who paid to travel together retain their spots.
The corporation confirmed that these priority slots apply strictly to first-time pilgrims undertaking their obligatory Hajj.
