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The Saudi Press Agency reported that Prince Mansour bin Miteb represented Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at events marking the Maldives’ 61st anniversary of independence from Britain. The prince met President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in the capital of Malé on July 26, 2026, to mark the occasion. He passed on personal congratulations from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman along with best wishes for the Maldives’ further progress and prosperity. Saudi Ambassador to the Maldives Yahya bin Hassan Al-Qahtani attended the celebration alongside Prince Mansour.
Bilateral diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Maldives, first established in 1981 according to records from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have expanded across multiple sectors in recent decades. The Saudi Press Agency noted that Prince Mansour’s participation underscores the depth of ties between the two countries, which share strong cultural and religious bonds as members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Saudi Arabia has provided development assistance to the Maldives in areas including infrastructure and capacity building, with several projects completed over the past 20 years as part of Gulf support for small island nations.
Maldives tourism data from the Ministry of Tourism indicates that visitor arrivals from Saudi Arabia have grown steadily, contributing to the island nation’s key economic sector that accounts for nearly 30 percent of its gross domestic product. The Saudi Press Agency highlighted Prince Mansour’s role in the independence day events as part of ongoing high-level exchanges that have increased since President Muizzu’s election in 2023. Such engagements build on prior visits and agreements aimed at enhancing economic cooperation and people-to-people links between the Gulf state and the Indian Ocean archipelago.
The 61st independence celebration drew representatives from numerous countries, reflecting the Maldives’ active role in international forums including the United Nations and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, a Saudi Foreign Ministry overview stated. Prince Mansour’s conveyance of royal greetings aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader diplomatic outreach to strengthen partnerships across the region. The ambassador’s presence further reinforced the operational coordination between the Saudi embassy and Maldivian authorities on matters of mutual interest.
Recent years have seen expanded trade volumes between Saudi Arabia and the Maldives, though specific figures remain modest given the Maldives’ small population of under 600,000 residents as per World Bank estimates. The Saudi Press Agency described the independence day participation as an opportunity to reaffirm support for the Maldives’ sovereignty and sustainable development goals. Additional areas of collaboration include health initiatives and environmental cooperation, particularly on climate change adaptation for low-lying atoll nations.
