The government has announced an additional USD 1,500 limit on debit card transactions for Maldivians traveling to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage during Ramadan. This is in addition to the existing USD 750 limit.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu made the announcement on X, stating that he had instructed the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) and the Bank of Maldives (BML) to facilitate this increase. The decision aims to ease financial transactions for Umrah travelers, allowing them to use their BML debit cards to withdraw or make payments in dollars at the bank rate, eliminating the need to purchase USD separately.

This move comes shortly after the government implemented strict regulations requiring resorts to exchange foreign currency through local banks. According to official figures, over USD 25 million has been exchanged with local banks by resorts in the first month since the rule took effect.

President Muizzu has pledged to address the country's ongoing dollar shortage by next year, assuring that debit and credit card limits will be further increased and dollar availability will improve by the second quarter of 2026.