Hajj Pilgrims Get Relief With Higher Card Limits

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has directed Bank of Maldives (BML) to raise the foreign transaction limit on debit cards to USD 2,000 for Maldivians performing Hajj this year.

The President announced the decision via social media, stating it would ease financial access for pilgrims during their sacred journey. He shared that he had formally requested the bank to raise the transaction cap to USD 1,750, which was later extended to USD 2,000.
Previously, BML debit cards had a foreign transaction limit of just USD 250. With this new update, Hajj pilgrims will benefit from a much higher limit, accessible at the official exchange rate of MVR 15.42 per dollar.

This move follows a similar initiative during Ramadan in March, when President Muizzu arranged for Umrah pilgrims to have their transaction limit raised to USD 1,500.
The decision comes after the introduction of the Foreign Currency Act earlier this year. The law requires businesses earning in foreign currency—such as those in the tourism sector—to exchange part of their revenue through local banks. This step aims to improve oversight and availability of foreign currency.

President Muizzu also revealed broader plans to increase US dollar access for all Maldivians travelling abroad. At present, BML allows USD 500 per person departing from Velana International Airport. The government plans to double this to USD 1,000 by early 2026 and increase credit card limits to USD 1,400 by mid-2026.
These efforts reflect the administration’s wider strategy to ease foreign transactions and support citizens’ needs during travel.