President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has conferred the Order of the Dignified Rule of the Muleege Dynasty (ODRMD) on Mohamed Solih in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the Maldivian economy for more than 50 years. The honour was presented during the official ceremony held to mark the Maldives’ Republic Day.

Solih is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern business and tourism development in the country. Over the past half-century, he has introduced diverse ventures across multiple sectors, including construction, retail, manufacturing, and tourism.

Solih began his career in 1951 with the Royal Air Force in Addu, where he served for nearly 15 years. Upon his return, he entered the private sector, first in cargo clearance and construction, before founding his own company, AlTurf. Over the years, Solih expanded his portfolio to include the Damas Group and several environmentally focused tourism initiatives.

As the first Managing Director of the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation, Solih played a key role in promoting tourism across the atolls, particularly in his native Addu Atoll. He also contributed to strengthening trade relations between Maldivian and South Asian businesses and was instrumental in attracting Chinese tourists to the Maldives, one of the country’s largest tourist markets today.

In addition to his business achievements, Solih has made significant philanthropic contributions, including the construction of mosques and the establishment of prayer facilities in schools.

Solih has received several national recognitions for his service. In 2022, he was awarded the National Award of Honour for his long-standing contributions to national development and business. He also received the President’s Tourism Gold Award in celebration of 50 years of Maldivian tourism, and a special presidential award earlier this year for advancing trade ties between the Maldives and Singapore.

His most recent honour, the ODRMD, underscores his lifelong dedication to strengthening the nation’s economic foundations and supporting sustainable growth.