Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Republic of Maldives, Hon. Abdul Raheem Abdulla, has undertaken an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January 20–23, 2026, at the invitation of Hon. Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh, Speaker of the Shura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Durung the visit, the Speaker of the People’s Majlis, paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Shura Council, and discussed the long-standing relations between the two nations which was built on the firm foundation of Islamic faith and centuries of religious, cultural, and historical connections.
Hon. Speaker of the People’s Majlis expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s continued support for the Maldives’ development, highlighting the assistance provided through the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), which played a vital role in infrastructure development of the Maldives, including housing, water and sewerage systems, and the modernization of Velana International Airport.
The meeting also focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, and renewable energy. Discussions also covered ways to institutionalize parliamentary cooperation in order to further strengthen the ties between the two parliaments.
Expressing solidarity, Speaker Hon. Abdul Raheem Abdulla conveyed the unwavering support of the people of the Maldives for the Palestinian cause and expressed his gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to advance peace and justice in the Middle East. Hon. Speaker also highlighted that, as a small island nation on the frontlines of climate change, the Maldives looked forward to Saudi Arabia’s continued leadership in advancing environmental sustainability and supporting vulnerable countries.
Furthermore, Speaker Hon. Abdul Raheem Abdullah expressed his sincere appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the exemplary facilitation of Hajj and Umrah arrangements for Maldivian pilgrims and conveyed hope for its continued improvement in easing the travel and entry process for the pilgrims.
At the meeting, Hon. Speaker of the People’s Majlis extended an official invitation to the Hon. Speaker of the Shura Council to visit the Maldives.
During their stay in Riyadh, the Speaker of the People’s Majlis and his delegation visited the Embassy of the Maldives in Saudi Arabia, and were welcomed by Ambassador Ahmed Sareer and the Embassy staff.
