President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has become the first Maldivian Head of State to visit every inhabited island within a single presidential term, completing the remarkable feat in just one year and eleven months.

The last time a sitting President completed visits to all inhabited islands was 42 years ago, when former President Uz Maumoon Abdul Gayoom accomplished the task over a span of five years. President Dr Muizzu reached the same milestone in less than two years, on Tuesday with a visit to Kaafu Thulusdhoo.

With his visit to Thulusdhoo, the President has now met residents from all 187 inhabited islands and cities across the country. He also revisited 63 of those islands, reinforcing his Administration’s connection with local communities and its focus on direct engagement with the people.

For decades, Maldivians experienced a centralised governance system that often slowed down responses to local concerns and development requests. President Dr Muizzu’s Administration has worked to change this approach by engaging communities directly and delivering Government services closer to the people.

Speaking to residents of Thulusdhoo, the President said his visits were driven by the goal of listening to citizens first-hand. He stressed that the days of residents having to communicate their grievances through lengthy bureaucratic processes should be left behind, affirming his belief in an accessible and people-centred form of governance.

Throughout his nationwide tour, President Dr Muizzu met with Island Councils and Women’s Development Committees (WDCs) to discuss local priorities and ongoing projects. He also held open discussions with residents, listening to their concerns and sharing progress on development initiatives.

Joined by Cabinet Ministers and senior officials from State-Owned Enterprises, the President ensured that every visit led to productive discussions and timely decision-making. Several community-oriented initiatives were launched during the tour, including the expansion of Bank of Maldives (BML) ATM services to all inhabited islands, the establishment of resident police services across the country, and the introduction of identity card and passport services in every atoll.

President Dr Muizzu also oversaw the commencement of key projects in housing, healthcare and education, while visiting local schools, health centres and community facilities to meet with residents and assess conditions on the ground.

The completion of the nationwide tour in record time stands as a reflection of President Dr Muizzu’s commitment to decentralised development, which he has identified as a central policy of his Administration. It embodies the Government’s vision to ensure that every island, regardless of size or distance, receives equal attention, resources and opportunity, guaranteeing that no community is left behind in the Maldives’ path to progress.