Maldives Records Highest Zakat Collections in History as System Improvements Take Hold

The Maldives has recorded the highest amount of zakat paid in the nation's history, according to the Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed. The surge in contributions follows significant structural and legislative improvements made to the country's zakat system over the past two years. Zakat collections on wealth have reached approximately USD 7.07 million so far this year, marking a notable increase from the USD 6.87 million collected during the same period last year. According to statistics from the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA), this growth continues a steady upward trend from previous years, where annual collections fluctuated between USD 5.85 million and USD 6.63 million from 2021 to 2023. Minister Dr. Shaheem emphasized that the current system is now protected by the country's first zakat law, which provides a clear legal framework to ensure the faith's objectives are met. This legislation defines the types of assets subject to zakat and establishes strict principles for the distribution of funds to promote social equality and self-sufficiency. To ensure transparency and trust, zakat funds are held by the central bank and distributed in strict accordance with publicly available Shariah guidelines. The Ministry further noted that detailed expenditure reports are disclosed to the public on a monthly basis. The increase in funding has had a direct impact on the Maldives' most vulnerable populations. The Minister highlighted that the last two years have seen record-breaking expenditures on citizens registered as poor. Beyond direct financial assistance, these funds are now being utilized to support critical needs in healthcare and education. Minister Dr. Shaheem attributed the success of these reforms to the legislative support of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and expressed gratitude to Maldivian citizens for their continued trust in the national zakat system. He also noted that several new Shariah-compliant initiatives have been launched to further diversify and increase the Zakat Fund.