The government has announced that 324 elderly Maldivians will be given the opportunity to perform Hajj in 2027 (1448 AH), under a new arrangement prioritising senior citizens who have already paid for the pilgrimage and spent years waiting for their turn.
The decision will allow eligible individuals aged 70 and above to undertake the pilgrimage, with 86 of the beneficiaries aged over 75.
The measure comes amid concerns that elderly citizens could miss the opportunity to fulfil their religious obligation because of lengthy waiting periods and the limited number of Hajj places allocated to the Maldives each year.
Under the new policy, priority will be given to individuals who reach the age of 70 by December 31, 2026, and who completed their Hajj payment on or before December 31, 2023.
These applicants must also be undertaking their first Hajj, as the arrangement is specifically intended for those who have yet to fulfil the obligatory pilgrimage.
The details were outlined during an information session attended by Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Maldives Hajj Corporation Managing Director Mohamed Firzul Abdulla Raheem.
Officials explained that the new arrangement will be implemented according to clearly defined age and queue registration criteria, rather than through discretionary selection.
They said the objective is to ensure that the available Hajj quota is distributed fairly while giving older applicants a better opportunity to complete the pilgrimage during their lifetime.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory once in a lifetime for Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.
However, the pilgrimage is subject to quotas allocated by Saudi Arabia, meaning countries such as the Maldives must manage waiting lists to determine who can travel each year.
For many Maldivians, securing a place can involve years of waiting after making the required payment.
The lengthy process has raised particular concerns for elderly applicants, whose health and physical ability to undertake the demanding pilgrimage may decline as they grow older.
The latest decision seeks to address those concerns by bringing forward the opportunity for senior citizens who have already spent at least three years in the queue.
According to Maldives Hajj Corporation, all 324 eligible individuals will be accommodated within the Maldives’ allocation for the 2027 Hajj season.
The corporation said the arrangement is also expected to reduce the number of elderly applicants remaining on the waiting list, allowing future Hajj queues to include a greater proportion of younger applicants.
Importantly, officials assured that the changes will not delay the pilgrimage for people aged between 65 and 69 who had already been projected to travel in 2027.
The policy also makes provision for elderly pilgrims who require family support during their journey.
Priority will be given to arranging travel for one accompanying family member who is already registered in the Hajj queue, allowing eligible senior citizens to undertake the pilgrimage with assistance from a relative.
This is expected to be particularly beneficial for older pilgrims who may need support during travel and while performing the physical rituals associated with Hajj.
Officials acknowledged that prioritising elderly applicants could result in some younger people waiting approximately one additional year before receiving their opportunity to travel.
However, they maintained that the adjustment is necessary to address the needs of those who face a greater risk of becoming unable to perform Hajj because of advancing age.
The Hajj Corporation said the revised arrangement will help make better use of the national quota while improving the management of the waiting list.
The decision also reflects a broader challenge faced by countries with limited pilgrimage allocations, where demand for Hajj places can significantly exceed the number available in any given year.
By prioritising older first-time pilgrims, the government aims to balance the principle of maintaining an orderly queue with the need to ensure that senior citizens are not left waiting indefinitely.
For the 324 Maldivians covered by the new policy, the decision brings closer an opportunity they have been awaiting for years, allowing them to prepare for the pilgrimage during the 2027 Hajj season.
