Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has contributed a total of 64,000 Islamic books to libraries throughout the Maldives, reinforcing the academic and religious knowledge infrastructure in the country. A formal handover ceremony was held on 8th September 2025 at the Conference Hall of the Islamic Centre. The event was graced by the presence of high-level dignitaries, including His Excellency Yahya Hassan Al-Qahtani, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Maldives, and Dr. Saleh bin Sulaiman Al-Araja, Director of Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University. Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, accepted the donation on behalf of the Ministry.
In his address, Minister Dr. Shaheem expressed deep appreciation for the generous contribution, describing it as a reflection of the strong and enduring brotherly ties between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia. He noted that the donation of these valuable educational resources reflects the Saudi Government’s continued dedication to supporting the academic and spiritual development of Maldivian students, researchers, and the wider public. Minister Shaheem extended special thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the officials of the Saudi Embassy for their ongoing efforts to enrich religious scholarship in the Maldives. He also acknowledged the valuable role played by the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in the Maldives, an affiliate of the University.
Addressing the event, Ambassador Al-Qahtani and Dr. Al-Araja reaffirmed the Kingdom’s long-term commitment to strengthening Islamic educational opportunities in the Maldives. They emphasized that the collaboration with Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University aims to empower Maldivian institutions with the necessary resources to nurture a new generation of scholars and students.
To honor the contribution, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs presented a special certificate of recognition to the university. The 64,000 books span a wide range of Islamic subjects, from jurisprudence and Hadith to Quranic interpretation and Arabic language studies, and are expected to serve as a core foundation for both newly established and existing Islamic libraries across the country.
This donation directly supports the administration’s educational vision under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s strategic development pledge. A key item in his presidential manifesto includes the establishment of fully resourced Islamic libraries within the main mosques of inhabited islands. This initiative is aimed at promoting widespread access to Islamic knowledge, cultivating religious literacy, and preserving scholarly traditions within community hubs. The arrival of these books is expected to accelerate the rollout of this national program, supporting mosque-based learning environments and enhancing the availability of religious texts for all age groups.
As the Maldives continues to invest in its human capital and educational infrastructure, this collaborative effort with Saudi Arabia represents a meaningful step forward in building sustainable, knowledge-driven communities. The ceremony today not only marked the handover of books but also reaffirmed a shared commitment to nurturing a future rooted in Islamic scholarship and mutual cooperation.
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