hajam.ai
23 September 2026

Health

The Ministry of Finance opened bidding on 23 September 2026 for interested parties to construct a 50-bed mental health hospital in Hulhumalé. Meanwhile, 39-year-old Aishath Aathifa passed away while receiving treatment at the Fulidhoo Health Centre after experiencing breathing difficulties and falling ill during a water exercise program conducted jointly by the school and police in V. Fulidhoo. Additionally, 30-year-old Mohamed Shaffan of Lilimagé, R. Dhuvaafaru, who fell ill while diving in the Shaviyani Atoll maritime area, was pronounced dead upon arrival at Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital.

The Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises opened for bidding on 23 September 2026 to seek a party to undertake the establishment of a 50-bed psychiatric hospital in Hulhumalé. Carried out at the request of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, participation in the bidding for this project is open to eligible contractors registered under the regulation for physical construction practitioners. Interested parties have been given the opportunity to pay the registration fee and submit bids in accordance with the state public finance regulations. The government decided to build such a specialized hospital with the aim of expanding mental health services in the Maldives and providing high-quality treatment.

A 39-year-old Maldivian woman who participated in an aqua aerobics class jointly conducted by the police and the V. Atoll School in V. Fulidhoo has passed away while undergoing treatment after her condition deteriorated. According to the police, the deceased in this incident was Aishath Athifa, from Rocket, B. Kudarikilu, and her condition worsened due to breathing difficulties while trying to get ashore during the water break of the ocean class. Although she was immediately taken to the Fulidhoo Health Centre for treatment, she passed away around 18:14 in the evening. The body of the deceased woman was brought to Male' and handed over to her family after a medical examination was conducted at IGM Hospital. Police are conducting further investigations into the matters related to this incident.

A young man who went diving from an R. Dhuvaafaru boat on a fishing trip in Sh. Atoll passed away before he was taken to the Sh. Maroshi Health Centre for treatment after falling ill upon returning to the boat, police revealed on 23 September 2026. The person who died in this incident was reported to be Mohamed Shaffan, 30, of Lilymage, R. Dhuvaafaru. Police stated that the report of the man being taken to the health centre after falling ill was received around 15:20 in the afternoon, and that they are investigating the matters related to this incident.

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Politics

Speaking at the gathering for the 96th National Day of Saudi Arabia, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated that the Multinational Maritime Defense Charter would elevate relations between the two countries to a new level. Responding to opposition criticism, the President also said that the $20 billion project in Ras Malé with Abu Dhabi's Eagle Hills would significantly increase the Maldives' GDP and cause no harm to the nation. Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer of the Maldives Pension Administration Office and former President of the ACC, Mariyam Shiuna, has been suspended from her official duties due to internal administrative issues at the office. A petition has been submitted to the People's Majlis on behalf of citizens requesting the abolition of the health insurance scheme designated for Members of Parliament. Looking at political party activities, MDP held an investment forum as part of its congress, while Sun Polls initiated a public opinion poll regarding the party's presidential primary. In a drug operation conducted in Gd. Thinadhoo, 39-year-old Fazleen Mohamed and 30-year-old Azlif Mohamed were arrested and remanded in custody along with 16.25 grams of illicit drugs. In connection with the fatal accident on Sosun Magu in Malé on September 21 that claimed the life of 26-year-old Aishath Mahidha, 21-year-old Maahu Hassan, who was driving a motorcycle without a license, was arrested and remanded in custody by the court for 15 days. Additionally, police have uncovered a major scam in which money was fraudulently taken from numerous individuals with the false promise of earning income from home.

Economy

Arrangements have been made for Maldivians to make payments in Maldivian Rufiyaa through "Global Dukaan", an e-commerce platform run jointly by Maldives Post and India Post. The Ministry of Economic Development instructed on 23 September 2026 for foreign businesses operating illegally in sectors reserved for Maldivians, such as wholesale and retail trade and airline cargo and passenger sales agencies, to cease operations before October 8, and published the names of 8 uncontactable companies. Under the first amendment brought to the Foreign Exchange Act, the MMA has mandated Category 'A' tourism businesses to exchange 40 percent of their total monthly foreign currency revenue through banks before the 28th of the following month, with fines of up to 5 million Rufiyaa decided for transactions conducted outside the stipulated rate. During a meeting held in Islamabad with a delegation led by Speaker of the People's Majlis Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) CEO Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat announced on 23 September 2026 that direct flights to the Maldives are scheduled to commence once additional aircraft are acquired.

Education

On 23 September 2026, the R. Vaadhoo Council announced a decision to implement around eight strict measures to improve the conduct of school children, including prohibiting them from being outdoors without a guardian after 9:00 PM and barring them from public parks and sports grounds after sunset. The Employment Tribunal has ordered the Civil Service Commission to pay MVR 82,529 to an Indian teacher who worked at Dh. Atoll School as compensation for the remainder of their contract, ruling that the dismissal was unlawful.