Tourism pioneer MU Maniku dies aged 78

Mohamed Umar ‘MU’ Maniku, the chairman of Universal Enterprises and one of the pioneers of the Maldivian tourism industry, died on early Saturday at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, where he was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.

He was 78 years of age.

According to a statement issued by Universal Enterprises, he died at 06:30 am Singapore time, which is 03:30 am Maldivian time.

Sun has been informed that he was taken to the Mount Elizabeth Hospital about a month back.

Paying tribute to his lasting legacy, Universal said that MU Maniku will forever be remembered as a pioneer whose vision, loyalty and integrity were felt by generations of industry professionals, who will remember him with deep affection and respect.

“He had been an integral part of the inception and growth of the tourism industry in the Maldives. We remember a man whose legacy cannot be confined to a date or any place,” reads the statement.

“To those close to him, MU Maniku was a guiding light. He was a steady hand that led Universal Enterprises through decades of change, and a mentor for many.”

Universal extended sincere gratitude on behalf of the his bereaved family to all offering support and condolences during the difficult time.

The chairman of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), MU Maniku is recognized for his role in introducing tourism to the Maldives in the 1970s – at a time when the island nation did not even have an airport, just a small airfield on Hulhule’ island.

In 1972, Italian travel agent George Corbin and a junior employee from the Maldivian Embassy in Sri Lanka, Ahmed ‘Kerafa’ Naseem, began developing a plan to open a resort in Maldives. They were soon joined by MU Manik and Hussain ‘Champa’ Afeef. The quartet settled on Vihamanaafushi, due to its proximity with both Hulhule’ and Male’.

Corbin traveled to Singapore to purchase equipment for the resort, while Naseem, Afeef, and MU Maniku worked on the construction.

The resort, which they named Kurumba Village, hosted its first batch of tourists on February 16, 1972; giving birth to an industry that revolutionized the Maldives, and continues to be its top money-maker.

During his tenure as chairman of Universal Enterprises, MU Maniku is credited with playing a key role in bringing Germany’s Condor Airlines to the Maldives in the 1980s, a move that linked the Maldives with larger Europe.

He remained one of the Maldives’ biggest resort operators at the time of his death.

Outside of his work in the tourism industry, MU Maniku served the state for over 19 years from 1971 to up until his retirement in 1990, serving in various positions at the Agriculture Ministry. He later served on the board of Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), as the chairperson of Island Aviation Services, and as chairperson of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), the latter of which he served up until January 2024.

MU Maniku has received various national awards and accolades for his contributions to the Maldivian tourism industry. This includes the National Award of Recognition in 1982, and the National Award of Honor in 2002. He also received the Minivan 25 Public Service Award and the President’s Tourism Golden Award in 2022.

MU Maniku was also known for his philanthropy. In 2004, he played a key role in supplying affected islands with clean water in the aftermath of a devastating tsunami.

He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.