The Saudi-Maldives International Forum on Integrity 2025 officially opened on May 5, 2025, at Villa Nautica, Maldives, bringing together senior government officials, anti-corruption experts, and tourism sector stakeholders from across the Islamic world. The forum is jointly organised by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of the Maldives and the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Under the theme “Strengthening Integrity and Combating Corruption in the Tourism Sector”, the two-day event has attracted over 180 delegates from more than 40 member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The high-level gathering marks a concerted effort to address corruption vulnerabilities in one of the most crucial economic pillars of many OIC nations, tourism.
The opening ceremony was graced by Vice President of the Maldives, H.E. Hussain Mohamed Latheef, who attended as the guest of honour. In his address, Vice President Latheef underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in fostering ethical governance and preserving the reputation and sustainability of the global tourism industry.
During the opening ceremony, President of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of the Maldives, Mr. Adam Shamil, emphasized the pressing need to strengthen ethical governance frameworks, identifying the forum as a vital initiative in shaping an economy grounded in integrity. He underscored that tourism remains a key pillar of prosperity for many OIC countries, but its continued growth is vulnerable to corruption-related threats. Mr. Shamil called for the implementation of robust anti-corruption measures to ensure the sustainability and credibility of the tourism industry, warning that inaction could erode investor trust and destabilize tourism markets. “Integrity is not a static concept; it requires constant vigilance, proactive measures, and shared responsibility,” he stated. “We must move beyond rhetoric and translate our commitments into meaningful action that creates real and lasting change.”
Echoing this sentiment, H.E. Mazin bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous, President of Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), addressed the forum by reaffirming the shared responsibility of OIC nations to uphold integrity and actively combat corruption in the tourism sector.
Adding a broader perspective, H.E. Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), stressed the collective need to foster transparency and build trust within tourism governance structures across member states.
In her remarks, Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), highlighted the value of international cooperation, stating: “Together, we can ensure that tourism remains a driver of inclusive growth, responsible investment and sustainable development, rooted in transparency and public trust.“
The forum follows up on resolutions adopted at the Second Ministerial Meeting of OIC Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Agencies, reinforcing a collective mandate to advance anti-corruption strategies and institutional integrity among member states. The discussions aim to build resilient systems capable of withstanding cross-border corruption threats, particularly in areas such as procurement, land-use regulation, and public-private partnerships.
Throughout the forum, panel sessions will delve into a variety of key topics, including ethical pitfalls in tourism investments, inefficiencies in public procurement processes, and governance challenges in managing tourism-related infrastructure. A special emphasis will be placed on enhancing international cooperation mechanisms for asset recovery, cross-border regulatory alignment, and capacity-building for anti-corruption bodies.
Senior representatives from anti-corruption commissions, tourism ministries, and global organisations are expected to present policy insights, share experiences, and contribute to forming actionable recommendations that promote transparency and accountability in tourism governance.
By fostering dialogue among policymakers and practitioners, the Saudi-Maldives Integrity Forum 2025 aims to set a benchmark for ethical leadership in tourism development across the OIC region, laying the foundation for a more transparent and resilient future for the sector.
advertisment
advertisment
