Imam of Masjid Al-Nabawi, Dr Salah bin Muhammad al-Budair, paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. The meeting took place at the President's Office this morning.

During the meeting, the President extended a warm welcome to the Imam of Masjid Al-Nabawi, to the Maldives, highlighting hosting the Imam as a great honour. He also emphasised that the visit is a symbol of the longstanding brotherly ties between the Maldives and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He further highlighted that it has been 41 years since an Imam of Masjid Al-Nabawi officially visited the Maldives.

Speaking at the meeting, the Imam of Masjid Al-Nabawi expressed gratitude to the Maldives Government for the invitation and hospitality. He remarked that the bond between the two nations is deeply rooted in their shared Islamic values and expressed his hopes for further strengthening of this relationship. He also conveyed warm greetings and well-wishes from His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

At the meeting, the President acknowledged the generous support of the Saudi government in various areas of national development, particularly in the field of Islamic education. He also expressed appreciation for the special care and hospitality extended to Maldivian pilgrims during Hajj and Umrah.

The meeting concluded with both the President and the Imam expressing their shared hopes that this historic visit will further strengthen the spiritual ties between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia and serve as a source of inspiration for the Maldivian people.

Sheikh Dr Salah Al-Budair, Imam of Masjid Al-Nabawi in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, arrived in Maldives this afternoon on an official visit. This marks the first visit in forty years by an Imam from the Two Holy Mosques — either the Grand Mosque in Makkah or the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah — to the Maldives. The last such visit occurred in 1984, when Sheikh Muhammad Al-Subayil, Imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, attended the opening ceremony of the Islamic Centre in Malé.

During the visit, Dr. Salah Al-Budair will participate in a series of significant religious and official events, including delivering the Friday sermon at the Islamic Centre in Malé and giving a public religious lecture. He is also scheduled to meet with Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, engage with local scholars, and visit King Salman Mosque and other Islamic institutions.

Ambassador Ahmed Sareer paid a courtesy call on H.E. Eng. Jassim Al-Sharwi, Secretary General of the International Energy Forum. At the meeting, they exchanged views on energy challenges facing the Maldives and explored possibilities for collaboration.