Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC), Mr Abdulla Yasir, met with His Excellency Sheikh Yousef Hasan Khalawi, Secretary-General of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development, on 2 September 2026 at the VMC office to discuss opportunities to advance halal tourism in the Maldives.

The meeting focused on the development of halal tourism products and experiences in line with the vision of His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to establish halal tourism as a dedicated segment within the Maldives’ national tourism portfolio.

VMC has initiated preliminary work to assess opportunities within the segment, including identifying resorts and hotels interested in developing halal-aligned tourism experiences. This includes exploring relevant certification pathways, specialised service standards and facilities that could support the development of a competitive halal tourism offering.

Highlighting the Corporation’s focus on the segment, Mr Yasir said, “Developing halal tourism is one of the key priorities for Visit Maldives Corporation, in line with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s vision to broaden and diversify the Maldives’ tourism offering. The Maldives has established itself globally as a leader in luxury and sustainable tourism, and we see considerable potential to build on these strengths to develop premium halal tourism experiences for a growing international market. Our focus will be on working with the industry to develop this segment to standards that reflect the quality and reputation of the Maldives as a destination.”

During the meeting, His Excellency Mr Khalawi shared insights from his extensive experience in organising major halal-focused events internationally. Discussions explored how international expertise, industry engagement and knowledge exchange could support the development of the segment in the Maldives, as well as opportunities to introduce high-value halal-focused tourism events to the destination.

The discussions also considered the potential of halal tourism to open new opportunities for the Maldivian tourism industry by responding to growing demand for premium travel experiences tailored to Muslim travellers. Developing the segment could further diversify the Maldives’ tourism portfolio while creating opportunities to strengthen destination promotion and engagement across relevant international markets.

VMC will continue engaging with the tourism industry to assess suitable approaches for developing halal-aligned services and experiences, while examining relevant certification requirements and international service standards. The Corporation will also explore opportunities for further collaboration and knowledge exchange as it works towards establishing halal tourism as a distinct and competitive segment within the Maldives’ tourism offering.