Ooredoo Maldives’ Chief Commercial Officer, Hussain Niyaz, has underscored digital finance as a key driver of economic inclusion across the Maldives, especially for island communities that sit outside the traditional tourism and resort hubs. Speaking at the Maldives Monetary Authority’s conference panel on “Rethinking Economic Growth Beyond Tourism,” he explained that fintech solutions are beginning to balance the country’s economic map by empowering people and businesses who historically operated in the shadow of major resort-centric activity.
Niyaz noted that digital finance has become one of the most effective tools for linking geographically dispersed communities to regional and global markets. He highlighted the upcoming integration of m-Faisaa with PayPal, which is expected to simplify access to international payments and income sources for Maldivians. This development is particularly significant for freelancers, artisans, guesthouses, and small merchants who support the wider tourism value chain from independent tour guides and content creators promoting resorts, to local suppliers providing goods and services to island-based hospitality businesses. With easier cross-border transactions, these stakeholders will be better positioned to sell products, secure bookings, and receive payments directly from overseas customers and partners.
For the tourism sector, the growing reach of digital finance can complement the resort experience and extend its benefits deeper into local communities. Guesthouses and small travel operators on nearby islands can receive instant payments from international visitors, while local creatives and service providers can collaborate with resorts to offer excursions, cultural experiences, and bespoke services that are paid for securely through digital wallets and international gateways. This broadens the economic impact of tourism, reduces reliance on cash-based transactions, and supports more transparent, traceable financial flows around resort operations and their surrounding communities.
At the same time, Niyaz acknowledged several structural challenges that must be addressed to unlock the full potential of fintech across the archipelago. High infrastructure costs, digital skill gaps, and fragmented systems continue to limit access in some areas. He stressed that overcoming these barriers will require aligned efforts between government agencies, financial regulators, and private-sector partners to strengthen connectivity, build interoperable platforms, and expand user-friendly digital tools nationwide.
During the session, he emphasised that successful digital transformation is ultimately driven by people as much as technology. Communities that are willing to learn, adapt, and engage with new tools will play a central role in shaping the Maldives’ digital future. This includes resort employees using digital payment platforms for salaries and remittances, entrepreneurs in island communities developing online services that cater to tourists, and young professionals leveraging global payment networks to sell their skills and creativity abroad.
Ooredoo Maldives reaffirmed its commitment to developing robust digital platforms, supporting financial inclusion, and working with partners across sectors to build a more resilient and diversified economy. By integrating services such as m-Faisaa with international payment providers and investing in digital infrastructure, the company aims to help ensure that the benefits of tourism extend beyond resort islands to freelancers, small businesses, and households throughout the country’s dispersed atolls.
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