In a significant stride towards expanding Islamic education, the Maldives Zakat Fund has launched 50 higher education scholarships, opening opportunities for study both in the Maldives and overseas. 

The scholarships were officially announced at a ceremony held at the Islamic Centre in Malé on April 14, 2025.

Of the total, 30 scholarships are available for international study in countries such as Malaysia, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and SAARC nations. 

Locally, 20 scholarships will support postgraduate programmes at the Maldives National University (MNU) and the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM). Fields of study include Quranic Sciences, Shariah, Islamic Finance, and Islamic Leadership.

Internationally, the Zakat Fund has partnered with several leading institutions, including the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), University Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF), and University Brunei Darussalam (UBD). These programmes offer undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in areas such as Halal Industry Management, Islamic Banking and Finance, Islamic Education, and Da’wah.

Additionally, 13 scholarship opportunities have been offered through universities in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, including Al-Azhar University, Madinah University, Umm Al-Qura University, and King Abdulaziz University.

A unique opportunity has also been announced, offering one scholarship each for super-specialised medical training in fields such as urology, paediatric neurology, and neurosurgery.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs confirmed that stipends will be awarded to 10 students pursuing Shariah, Tafseer, Hadith, Uloom al-Quran, Arabic, and related Islamic disciplines. These stipends are intended to cover educational expenses not otherwise provided for by host institutions.