President Mohamed Muizzu and former presidents Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Mohamed Nasheed have paid tribute following the death of Mohamed Umar Maniku, one of the founding figures of the Maldives tourism industry.
Muizzu said on X, that he heard with “deep sadness” the news of Maniku’s passing. He described Maniku as “one of the pillars of Maldives tourism” and praised his role in making the Maldives a world-class destination.
“May Allah bless the soul of the late Mohamed Umar Maniku and grant him eternal blessings in Paradise. May God grant the family of the deceased patience. Amen,” Muizzu wrote.
Former president Solih also expressed condolences to Maniku’s family, highlighting his decades of service. Solih said Maniku played an important role not only in tourism but also in the health and education sectors, helping to expand higher education opportunities and supporting many people through his generosity.
Former president Nasheed described Maniku as “the biggest contributor to shaping and building Maldives to what we see today,” offering condolences to his family and praying for him to rest in paradise.
Messages of grief and sympathy have also flooded social media, with many paying respects to Maniku’s legacy and extending condolences to his family.
Maniku, co-founder of Kurumba Maldives and a key pioneer in developing the country’s tourism sector, died on Saturday morning in Singapore at the age of 78. He had been undergoing treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital since late July.
His funeral will be held in Singapore. A Salat al-Ghaib, or funeral prayer in absentia, will be performed at the Malé Islamic Centre mosque after the Asru prayer.