The President's Office has disclosed that the cost of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's trip to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amounted to USD226,000.
The administration detailed the expenses of President Muizzu's recent foreign visit during a press conference at the President's Office. This is the first meeting with the local media providing a detailed breakdown of the expenses of the President's visit. The meeting follows President Muizzu’s pledge to disclose the costs incurred on his overseas trip within 15 days following the conclusion of his overseas visit.
During the press conference, Chief Spokesperson at the President’s Office Mohamed Shahyb said that the total cost of the President's official visits to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the Twenty-Eighth Session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) amounted to USD226,000. He also provided a separate breakdown of the President's travel costs to the UAE and Turkey and detailed information on ticket costs, pocket money, and other expenses.
Additionally, Shahyb said the Turkish government arranged for the internal travel, accommodation and meals of the 22 members of President Muizzu's delegation. The UAE government covered the cost of 10 of the 19 delegation members. The President's Office stated that these visits have created significant investment opportunities for the Maldives.
President Muizzu has previously declared that he and the Vice President would not travel first class during overseas visits.