President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has discussed strengthening economic cooperation between Maldives and Saudi Arabia, in a meeting with a Saudi Arabian business delegation led by Sara Al Sayed, Deputy Minister for International Relations at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment.
The delegation’s visit follows the President’s audience with Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Saudi Arabia, during his visit to the Kingdom earlier this year to perform Hajj, where both sides discussed expanding investment cooperation between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia. The delegation’s presence in Male’ is a significant step towards strengthening economic ties and exploring new, promising avenues of partnership between the two countries.
Discussions during the call centred on deepening cooperation across several key sectors, including investment, private-sector development, economic growth, agriculture, fisheries, artificial intelligence, information technology, and tourism.
The delegation is also participating in the Maldives–Saudi Investment Roundtable, where they will engage directly with Maldivian Government agencies and industry leaders across these thematic areas.
The President expressed his appreciation to Saudi Arabia for its longstanding generosity and support to the Maldives, noting that such assistance has greatly contributed to the nation’s socioeconomic development. He also conveyed heartfelt gratitude for the Kingdom’s role in facilitating the completion of Velana International Airport (VIA) and for dispatching the distinguished delegation to the Maldives.
The Saudi delegation, in turn, expressed their gratitude to the President and the Government of the Maldives for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to them.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to further enhancing the close and brotherly relations between the two countries. Cabinet Ministers and senior officials from the President’s Office were also in attendance.