Tourism and environment ministries merged; Thoriq appointed as minister

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu merged the Tourism Ministry with the Environment Ministry on Saturday, and reappointed Thoriq Ibrahim to his cabinet as the minister of tourism and environment.

Thoriq was appointed to his new role in a ceremony held at the President’s Office on Saturday afternoon.

His oath was administered by Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan.

In a meeting held after the appointment, President Muizzu emphasised the strategic importance of promoting the Maldives through an integrated approach that highlights the synergy between the nation's environmental heritage and its tourism sector.

Up until his new appointment, Thoriq had been serving in President Muizzu’s cabinet as the minister of climate change, environment and energy.

The decision to merge the Tourism Ministry and the Environment Ministry came after President Muizzu dismissed Ibrahim Faisal as tourism minister on January 28, for undisclosed reasons.

Both Faisal and Thoriq were members of President Muizzu’s original cabinet – appointed shortly after he took office on November 17, 2023.

With the decision to merge the Tourism Ministry and the Environment Ministry, the number of government ministries is down from the original 22 to 20.

The change the third cabinet reshuffle by President Muizzu since he took office.

The first major reshuffle had been on September 30, 2024, when Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq resigned from his role as finance minister. Following the resignation, Moosa Zameer was changed from foreign minister to finance minister, Dr. Abdulla Khaleel was changed from health minister to foreign minister, and Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim was appointed as health minister.

And on December 26, 2024, President Muizzu implemented another major reshuffle that included the merger of the Housing Ministry and the Infrastructure Ministry.