President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration, now in its 104th week, has highlighted its accomplishments over the past two years as part of an ambitious 20‑year agenda to reshape the nation’s sporting landscape. Anchored in sweeping legislative reforms and substantial investment, the plan seeks to position the Maldives as a credible host for major regional competitions, including the Asian Games, South Asian Games, and the Indian Ocean Island Games.
The Sports Development Plan, developed in consultation with local sports associations and NGOs and supported by experts from the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program, sets out a long‑term vision to elevate the Maldives into a regional sporting hub.
On 19 May 2025, President Muizzu ratified the first amendment to the Maldives Sports Act, a measure widely regarded as a turning point in the nation’s sporting trajectory. The reform introduced a decentralised framework that authorised regional associations across all sports, expanded opportunities for individuals requiring special assistance, and eliminated conflicts and discriminatory practices among agencies.
It also established a National Sports Fund, mandated a Sports Arbitration system, and granted independent status to the Maldives National Anti‑Doping Agency. Athlete welfare was placed at the centre of the changes, with insurance coverage secured and salaries for national team players and officials standardised. By 8 November 2025, the administration had fulfilled 47 sports‑related pledges, underscoring its commitment to reform.
The government has redirected resources to ensure balanced development across all sporting disciplines. Between January and November 2025, USD 4.28 million was allocated to the sports Public Sector Investment Programme. Progress has been tangible, with 413 projects underway, including 367 contracted and 46 in active implementation.
Thirty new projects initiated in 2025 have already been completed, while 59 stalled projects from the previous administration were restarted and brought to completion by November. This broad‑based approach has eliminated earlier discrepancies in resource distribution and reflects a deliberate shift toward equitable investment.
Training and capacity‑building have emerged as a cornerstone of the government’s strategy. By November 2025, the Maldives National Institute for Sports had trained 321 individuals through 25 programmes, ranging from coaches and referees to administrators, first aid officials, and specialists in sports nutrition and psychology. The institute also hosted a workshop to strengthen athletes’ nutrition and psychological well‑being, while its Sports Administrators and Team Management course, accredited by the Maldives Qualification Authority, was designed to professionalise the management of associations, clubs, and societies.
Direct athlete support has been reinforced through the ‘Arutha’ programme, revised and gazetted on 27 October 2025, which provides competitive athletes with advanced training both domestically and abroad, fully funded by the government. The programme offers up to USD 19,459.46 annually for training and ensures equal access to technical expertise.
The Office of the Commissioner of Sports has played a decisive role in addressing governance challenges within two major sporting bodies. At the Football Association of Maldives, the commissioner halted an election conducted in violation of regulations, reformed management rules, and guided the electoral process to meet FIFA and AFC standards. The office also supported restructuring competitions to expand participation across all islands.
At the Badminton Association, suspension by the international governing body due to electoral irregularities prompted intervention to revise management regulations and prepare for new elections, enabling Maldivian representation at the Asian Games in Bahrain in October 2025.
International cooperation has been strengthened through two key agreements. On 16 February 2025, an accord was signed with the Fujian Provincial Bureau of Sports in China to promote institutional collaboration and facilitate training camps for professional coaches. On 28 April 2025, a second agreement was signed in Putrajaya with Malaysia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, encompassing seminars, research, facility development, and exchanges of players, coaches, referees, and experts, while also addressing sports medicine, rehabilitation, and anti‑doping.
The Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation has also launched a project to archive the nation’s sporting history, an effort long neglected. The initiative involves digitising achievements, athlete profiles, and historical records through photos, videos, and documents, creating a permanent digital archive for future generations.