Hajj pilgrims to receive extra USD 1,750 allowance on debit cards

The national bank will be granting an extra USD 1,750 allowance on debit cards for Maldivian citizens who will embark on the holy hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia this year.

In a post on X on Monday afternoon, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that he asked the Bank of Maldives (BML) to grant an extra allowance for pilgrims in order to offer a solution to the challenges they may face in obtaining US dollars at the bank rate.

“…. I have asked the Bank of Maldives to provide each hajj pilgrim an extra USD 1,750 allowance on top of the existing dollar limit on their Bank of Maldives debit cards,” he said.

He took the opportunity to thank the BML.

މިއަހަރު ޙައްޖަށް ވަޑައިގަންނަވާ ފަރާތްތަކަށް ބޭންކްގެ ރަސްމީ ރޭޓުގައި ޑޮލަރު ހޯދުމުގައި ލުއި ފަސޭހަ ޙައްލެއް ހަމަޖައްސައިދިނުމުގެ ގޮތުން، ކޮންމެ ޙައްޖު ވެރިއެއްގެ ބޭންކް އޮފް މޯލްޑިވްސް ޑެބިޓް ކާޑަށް، މިހާރު އޮންނަ ޑޮލަރުގެ ލިމިޓުގެ އިތުރުން 1750 އެމެރިކާ ޑޮލަރުގެ ލިމިޓެއް…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) May 12, 2025

In a statement shortly after President Muizzu’s announcement, the BML confirmed that customers embarking on hajj will receive an extra USD 1,750 allowance on debit cards as requested.

According to BML, the debit card limit of pilgrims will be increased once Maldives Hajj Corporation shares the list of hajj pilgrims with the bank.

Customers will receive an SMS once their card limit is increased, added the bank

The BML has a monthly limit of USD 250 for foreign transaction on its debit cards. But with the additional allowance, umrah pilgrims will be able to make USD 2,000 in transactions.

They will also have access to the USD 500 available for sale from BML at the bank rate for outbound Maldivian travelers.

The BML had granted a similar allowance earlier this year, when they grant an extra USD 1,500 allowance on debit cards for customers who will embarked on the umrah pilgrimage during Ramadan or during the first six days of Shawwal.

According to BML, some 1,300 umrah pilgrims used the extra allowance to conduct around 9,000 in transactions worth over USD 1 million.

Maldives received a quota of 1,000 pilgrims for hajj this year.

According to the Islamic Ministry, the first group of Maldivian pilgrims will depart for Saudi Arabia on May 26.

The Maldives has been added to the Makkah Route Initiative this year, which means pilgrims can complete immigration procedures of both countries at the Velana International Airport before leaving for Saudi Arabia.

This eliminates waiting time at Jeddah airport and allows pilgrims to directly go to their hotels with their luggage.