Maldives-Saudi Arabia Ties: An Overview
Indian Council of World Affairs
“An important aspect of Maldives and Saudi relations is Maldives’ emphasis on strategic autonomy and its willingness to move away from the regional geopolitics involving China and India. It is diversifying its economic and foreign relations, away from the region, and Saudi Arabia is a preferred partner in this context, given especially the religious or cultural affinity and traditional relations. At the regional level, both countries are part of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC). The Maldives is increasingly willing to play an important role in the OIC through various collaborative platforms, such as the first Saudi-Maldives International Forum on Integrity, organised in May 2025. The Forum was co-hosted by Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority and the Maldives’ Anti-Corruption Commission. Fifty OIC countries have participated in the Forum. The primary agenda of this forum was to deepen bilateral cooperation on integrity-related matters and promote strong government frameworks, accountability, and proper utilisation of government resources.”
“Saudi Arabia’s keen interest in engaging with Maldives can be seen in the context of its 2030 vision, which emphasises on becoming a global investment powerhouse by diversifying its revenues. In this context, the evolving bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and the Maldives may pave the way for increased economic and financial cooperation with the GCC countries. The recent announcement of the $8.8 billion Maldives International Financial Centre (MIFC) in Malé, in partnership with MBS Global Investments of UAE, in May 2025, is an example in this regard. It promises to provide a financial free zone to attract global financial institutions, fintech firms, and remote workers. With this investment Maldives is hoping to position itself as a leading financial and business hub in the IOR [Indian Ocean Region].”
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