Zameer: Assessing impact of Middle East situation on Maldives

Finance Minister Moosa Zameer states the government is actively assessing the impact of the situation in the Middle East on Maldives.

The tit-for-tat attacks between Iran and Israel escalated on Sunday when US forces attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities. In a retaliatory move, Iran launched an attack on a US military base in Qatar late Monday.

Subsequently, several Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar and United Arab Emirates which are crucial to the Maldives in terms of tourism and trade, closed their airspace. As such, concerns loom over the possible impact on the Maldivian tourism industry, the country’s economic backbone.

Moreover, there has also been a hike in the prices of oil on the international market. This could possibly boost inflation and become a financial burden that Maldives would have to bear as it grapples with a dire economic situation.

After two weeks since the attacks began, Minister Zameer, via a post on X, said the government, under the leadership of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, is actively assessing the impact of the situation in Middle East on the Maldivian economy, including energy markets, food security, and overall financial stability.

The Government, under the leadership of President Dr @MMuizzu, is actively assessing the impact of the situation in Middle East on our economy, including energy markets, food security, and overall financial stability.

We are working with relevant institutions to closely monitor…

— Moosa Zameer (@MoosaZameer) June 24, 2025

He detailed that the government was working with relevant institutions to closely monitor market prices, inflationary trends, and trade flow disruptions.

“We remain committed to preparedness and safeguarding the interests of all Maldivians,” he added.

Notably, Maldivian women’s national tennis team players who were in Jordan to participate in the qualifying for the Billie Jean Cup or Tennis World Cup became stuck in the country after it closed its airspace when Israel first launched attacks on Iran on June 12^th.  They have since safely returned to the Maldives.