A Maldivian pilgrim has passed away.

Hamid Mohamed, native to Holhudhoo island in Noonu atoll, died while in Mecca, Saudi Arabia for Umrah, at around 2:15am on Friday.

During January this year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia established a set of guidelines to be followed when Maldivian pilgrims visit to perform Umrah pilgrimage, during the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic.

So far, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has approved licenses for 37 companies to carry pilgrims for Umrah.

The kingdom recently strengthened guidelines in social distancing while performing Umrah and Hajj following a rise in Covid-19 cases of recent.

As such, measures were enforced to ensure social distancing while performing Umrah, from December 30 onwards.