His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed this afternoon hosted a special luncheon in honour of the Palestine U-17 football team at the elegant ballroom of JEN Maldives Malé by Shangri-La. The team is in the Maldives for a high-performance training camp ahead of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers, reflecting the country’s growing appeal as a regional hub for sports tourism and training retreats. Senior Government officials and members of the Maldives U-17 team joined the event, underlining the importance the administration places on youth development, international sporting partnerships and people-to-people links between the Maldives and Palestine.
The visit of the Palestine U-17 squad has been anchored around intensive training sessions and two friendly matches against the Maldivian U-17 team, offering valuable exposure for young players on both sides. As part of the engagement, President Dr Muizzu and Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef purchased limited-edition souvenir tickets for the matches, with all proceeds dedicated to the Palestinian Football Association to help rebuild and develop football infrastructure and programmes in the war-affected nation. This initiative combines sports diplomacy with targeted financial support, creating a tangible channel through which Maldivian fans and the business community can contribute to the long-term revival of Palestinian football.
Hosting the luncheon at JEN Maldives Malé by Shangri-La also highlights the role of the capital’s hospitality sector in supporting official events, visiting delegations and transit tourism.
For the Maldives, the presence of the Palestine U-17 side and the active participation of the country’s top leadership signal a broader strategy to position the destination not only as a world-class leisure market, but also as a credible platform for sports exchanges, youth development and solidarity-driven initiatives. By pairing a high-visibility youth football visit with premium hospitality at JEN Maldives Malé and a targeted fundraising effort for the Palestinian Football Association, this engagement strengthens bilateral ties, generates positive exposure for Maldivian tourism brands and reinforces the country’s image as a welcoming partner for international teams, federations and business stakeholders looking to connect sports, development and responsible tourism.
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