President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday conferred the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin (ODRI) upon tourism pioneer and entrepreneur Mohamed Moosa during the official ceremony marking the 61st Independence Day of the Maldives.

The honour recognises Moosa's decades of contributions to the Maldives' tourism industry, business sector and national development. He was previously conferred the Order of the Dignified Rule of the Muleege Dynasty (ODRMD) on 26 July 2013.

Widely recognised as one of the pioneers of Maldivian tourism, Moosa has played a leading role in the growth of the country's tourism industry through investments in resorts, hospitality and related sectors. He also built a diverse business portfolio spanning agriculture, aviation, banking, healthcare and the media.

Moosa promoted commercial farming and served on the Government's Agricultural Advisory Board, receiving the Green Leaf Award in 1996 for his contributions to agriculture and environmental conservation. He also founded the Maldives' first private broadcasting outlets – DhiFM, DhiFM Plus and DhiTV.

His contributions extend to major national projects, including the development of Addu International Airport, Madivaru Domestic Airport, the Maldives Finance and Leasing Company, the Commercial Bank of Maldives, and Tree Top Hospital. Through the Ali Fulhu Thuthu Foundation, he has also supported scholarships and community development initiatives across the Maldives.

Moosa has received several national and international honours, including the President's Tourism Gold Award in 2022, marking the 50th anniversary of tourism in the Maldives, and the Face of South Asia Tourism Award at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) in 2024. The conferment of the ODRI is the latest recognition of his longstanding contribution to the nation's economic development.