BML eases dollar access for Umrah travelers in Ramadan

Bank of Maldives (BML) has once again established a special arrangement this year for Maldivians traveling for Umrah through groups during the upcoming month of Ramadan to easily purchase dollars.

The bank stated today that the service for selling dollars to Umrah pilgrims will be provided from the ground floor of the BML Customer Service Centre located on Ameenee Magu.

The service will be provided by issuing queue numbers at the Customer Service Centre.

The bank noted that on the days dollars are sold to Umrah pilgrims, the service of selling dollars to pilgrims will be suspended at the BML Islamic Male' Branch, Main Branch, Hulhumale' Branch, and Villingili Branch.

BML stated that the service for Umrah pilgrims at the BML Customer Service Centre will be available from next Sunday until the 26th of this month. The service hours are from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm daily.

BML said the bank will only sell dollars to individuals included in the lists of pilgrims submitted by Umrah groups. It further noted that each person traveling for Umrah is eligible to purchase USD 500. Payments for purchasing dollars from BML must be made using a debit card.

When visiting BML to purchase dollars, the original ID card or passport of each individual must be presented. If someone else goes to purchase dollars on behalf of a pilgrim, the original ID card of that representative must also be presented.

BML stated that other individuals traveling for Umrah can complete their dollar transactions through the USD Booking Portal and collect the cash from the departure hall at Velana International Airport.

BML also provided an easy arrangement for purchasing dollars for those who went for Umrah during last year's Ramadan. During that period, over one million dollars were issued through the BML debit cards of Maldivians who went for Umrah.

The President's Office has stated that an additional $1,500 limit was arranged for the BML debit card of every person who went for Umrah from the Maldives last Ramadan.

The President's Office noted at the time that with this change to the dollar limit, a total of $1,005,172.82 was released to Umrah pilgrims at the official rate of 15.42.