President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has formally established the Maldives Zakat House under the newly enacted Zakat Act, which came into force on 1 January 2026.

With the implementation of the new law, the Maldives Zakat House that previously operated under the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has been dissolved.

The Zakat Act establishes a comprehensive legal structure governing the collection, management and distribution of Zakat in the Maldives, with the aim of ensuring transparency, efficiency and adherence to Islamic principles in fulfilling the objectives of Zakat.

Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said the Maldives’ Zakat Act is among the most comprehensive of its kind in the Islamic world. He noted that public confidence in the Zakat system has increased in recent years, contributing to record-high Zakat collections.

The Act is intended to strengthen institutional oversight of Zakat, enhance public trust, and ensure that contributions are distributed effectively to those entitled under Islamic law.