President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has returned to the Maldives after an official visit to Qatar, where he conveyed the condolences of the Maldivian government and people following the passing of the country's former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
President Muizzu travelled to Doha to pay his respects to Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and members of the royal family following the death of the former ruler, who passed away last Sunday.
During the visit, President Muizzu was received in an official audience by Sheikh Tamim, where the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening the longstanding friendship and bilateral cooperation between the Maldives and Qatar.
The Maldivian government said the visit reflects the high importance it places on its enduring partnership with Qatar, which has supported the Maldives' development across a wide range of sectors over the past four decades.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who served as Emir of Qatar from 1995 to 2013, played a significant role in advancing relations between the two countries. His contributions included facilitating the launch of Qatar Airways services to the Maldives, supporting the establishment of the Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani School in Laamu Atoll, and contributing to the construction of the Sheikh Qasim bin Al Thani Mosque in Hulhumalé. He also paid an official visit to the Maldives in 2005, further strengthening bilateral ties.
The Maldives and Qatar established diplomatic relations on 26 May 1984, and cooperation has since expanded through investments, infrastructure development, education and other key areas.
Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Hala Hameed, said bilateral relations entered a new chapter with the opening of the Maldives' resident embassy in Doha in June 2025 and the appointment of Adam Shareef Umar as the country's first resident Ambassador to Qatar.
Speaking during a PSM News programme following the passing of the former Emir, Dr Hala described the establishment of the embassy as a major milestone that has elevated diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
She said the presence of a resident ambassador in Doha provides greater opportunities to engage directly with senior Qatari officials, strengthen political dialogue and secure wider cooperation and assistance in areas including economic development, education and defence.
Dr Hala also highlighted Doha's growing importance as a global diplomatic hub, noting that maintaining a permanent diplomatic mission there enhances the Maldives' international engagement and creates new opportunities for strategic partnerships. She added that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef have previously reinforced these ties through their participation in major international conferences hosted in Qatar.
The government expressed confidence that the continued strengthening of diplomatic relations, supported by the new resident embassy and regular high-level engagements, will further expand cooperation and deliver lasting benefits for both the Maldives and Qatar.
