Everyone aged 70 and above who has been in the Hajj queue for at least three years will be able to perform Hajj next year, Islamic Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed announced on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference held by the Islamic Ministry and Maldives Hajj Corporation, the minister said 324 people qualify under the new rule for the 1448 AH Hajj. Of them, 86 are aged over 75 and will travel with companions, bringing the total group to around 410.
The ministry said the decision was taken because a large number of elderly people are waiting in the Hajj queue relative to the quota the Maldives receives each year, raising concern that many of them may not get the chance to perform the pilgrimage if they continue to wait.
Hajj Corporation Managing Director Mohamed Firzul Abdulla Khaleel said the rule will be applied objectively based on age and the date each person secured a place in the queue, and will apply equally to everyone without discrimination.
Under the rule, people counted as having been in the queue for three years are those who paid for Hajj on or before 31 December 2023. Applicants must have turned 70 on or before 31 December 2026. Only those performing their obligatory Hajj for the first time will be eligible.
The ministry said people aged between 65 and 69 who were already expected to travel next year will not face any delay, as they will also be prioritised in the queue. A family member who paid to travel together with such a pilgrim will also keep their place.
Some people below 65 may see their departure pushed back by about a year as a result of the change. However, the ministry said the move will make the fairest and fullest use of the country's Hajj quota, reduce the number of elderly people left waiting, and over time shift the queue towards younger age groups.