In a move to modernise its social welfare framework, the Maldives Zakat House has officially launched the “Zakat Asnaf Card,” a pioneering initiative designed to streamline and digitise the distribution of Zakat-funded assistance to the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
The card was inaugurated by the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. The launch marks a significant milestone in the institution's ongoing mission to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and dignity of its services in accordance with Shariah principles.
Exclusively designated for individuals registered in the national registry of the poor and needy (Asnaf), the card functions as a unified digital key. It empowers eligible beneficiaries to seamlessly access a wide array of assistance programmes, both current and future, administered by the Zakat House.
The system effectively eliminates the longstanding administrative burden on recipients, who previously had to submit basic documentation repeatedly for each application. Now, services can be accessed instantly with a single scan of the card.
Powered by advanced QR code technology, each Asnaf Card is directly linked to the verified digital profile of the recipient within the Zakat House’s secure system. This allows authorised service providers to instantly confirm an individual’s eligibility, ensuring that vital Zakat assistance is distributed transparently, efficiently, and exclusively to its rightful recipients.
This initiative is the first phase of the broader “Beneficiary Identification Card System” proposed by the Maldives Zakat House. The overarching goal is to integrate all Zakat-funded programmes under a single, cohesive digital framework.
Future phases of this digital transformation journey are already planned, including the integration of comprehensive digital records and the introduction of a dedicated mobile application to further ease access for beneficiaries.
According to the government, these technological advancements will profoundly enhance accountability, prevent the duplication of aid, and support data-driven decision-making to optimise the impact of Zakat collection and distribution across the nation.
The launch of the Asnaf Card is a key component of the broader administration agenda under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to strengthen the national Zakat system.
It follows the historic establishment of the Maldives Zakat House itself, which centralised the management and distribution of Zakat into a single, dedicated institution, ensuring this pillar of Islam is fulfilled with greater trust and efficacy than before.