More than 4,000 Maldivian pilgrims have traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage during the ongoing holiday break, according to official government reports.

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, confirmed the figures today, stating that over 4,000 citizens are currently performing Umrah through various travel groups. The Minister further assured the public that all pilgrims are in good health and their well-being is being monitored.

This year’s pilgrimage season marked a historic milestone for the Maldives, with the first-ever direct Umrah flights departing from Gan International Airport in Addu City to Saudi Arabia. These operations were facilitated by the national carrier, Maldivian, utilizing its Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft.

The national airline initially launched its wide-body Umrah operations on July 22 last year. During its inaugural wide-body service, Maldivian successfully transported over 750 pilgrims, reflecting the growing demand for direct travel options from the southern atolls.