The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced a wide-reaching initiative to expand religious learning across the country, following a pledge by an overseas university to donate 60,000 books to Islamic libraries nationwide.
Ministry officials said the contribution is expected to revitalise Islamic centres established across several islands, many of which remain underutilised. The effort falls within a broader governmental strategy aimed at strengthening religious infrastructure and broadening public access to theological resources.
As part of this plan, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Minister of Islamic Affairs, confirmed that the books, secured through arrangements with a university in a friendly country, have been designated for libraries at centres in Didhdhoo, Ungoofaaru, Thimarafushi, Addu City, and other locations throughout the atolls.
The minister added that preparatory work at centres currently in operation is scheduled to begin shortly. Establishment of a library at the Salman Mosque in Malé is reportedly progressing swiftly, marking one of the first Islamic library projects to move forward under the initiative. The development of libraries across the country was pledged as part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's electoral commitments.
As part of a concurrent digital initiative, the ministry last year introduced a redesigned website featuring an online library that provides access to publications issued since 2008. Ministry officials said the platform would be expanded to accommodate a wider selection of titles across Islamic and other scholarly disciplines, with materials available for online reading.