The Maldives Zakat House has formally inaugurated the collection of Zakat al-Fitr in the form of food staples, establishing dedicated processing centres to facilitate the receipt of these obligatory charitable contributions. In the Greater Malé region, authorities have designated the Centre for Higher Secondary Education as the primary venue for grain-based donations.
This physical collection schedule, which includes sessions on 14, 15, 16, and 18 March, serves to accommodate citizens who encounter difficulties with the state’s digital-first approach. On 14 and 15 March, counters will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. For the final two days of this phase, 16 and 18 March, the service will expand to include both a morning window from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and an afternoon session from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The administration has codified the specific commodities eligible for these contributions to include standard, Thailand white, basmati, and red rice, as well as standard and Atta flour. In accordance with religious requirements, the mandated amount is set at 2.4 kilogrammes per person, calculated based on the specific staple consumed by the individual’s household.
Data released by the Zakat House indicates a significant strengthening of charitable participation, with USD 350,194.55 collected during the first 15 days of Ramadan. Officials noted that this figure represents the highest volume of Zakat receipts recorded during the initial half of the holy month compared to the preceding three years.