President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the future of the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) will be shaped with high priority by the Government, as part of its commitment to advancing Islamic education in the country.

The President made these remarks while speaking at the 2025 convocation ceremony of IUM, where he reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to strengthening the institution, noting that it is a key pledge in the Government’s manifesto.

President Dr Muizzu said the most significant project currently underway for IUM is the construction of a new university building, a long-standing goal for the institution. He noted that land has already been allocated for the project and that it now has the Government’s full support. The President also highlighted the IUM Waqf Building 'Sanabil' project, which is to be financed through the sale of sukuk. Both projects, he added, had remained stalled for years but are now receiving renewed focus under his Administration.

As part of the Government's efforts to expand access to Islamic higher education, the President also announced plans to extend IUM campuses to the atolls, making its academic offerings more widely available across the country.

The Islamic University of Maldives was originally established as the College of Islamic Studies (Kulliyah Al-Dhirasaathil Islamiyah). It became a full-fledged higher education institution on February 2004, and was later upgraded to university status in 2015 by a presidential decree. The elevation of the institution was part of a national policy to promote and protect the Islamic faith in the Maldives.