Maldives President Awards MWL Chief ‘Order of Honor of the Republic’

President of the Maldives awards MWL Secretary-General Order of Honor of the Republic. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
President of the Maldives awards MWL Secretary-General Order of Honor of the Republic. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Maldives President Awards MWL Chief ‘Order of Honor of the Republic’

President of the Maldives awards MWL Secretary-General Order of Honor of the Republic. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
President of the Maldives awards MWL Secretary-General Order of Honor of the Republic. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih met at the presidential palace on Monday with a Muslim World League (MWL) delegation, led by its Secretary-General Dr. Mohammad al-Issa.

The visiting delegation arrived in Male in response to an official invitation by the president.

During the meeting, Solih awarded Issa the Order of Honor of the Republic in recognition of his efforts to serve Islam and world peace.

They later announced the inauguration of an MWL's regional office in the Maldives to serve the Maldives and other regional countries.

The office will include an exhibition of Prophet Mohammed's biography and training sessions on the Charter of Makkah.

The President congratulated Issa on behalf of his country’s government for receiving the Order of Honor, which represents an extension of the long legacy left by Sultan Ibrahim, who ruled the Maldives from 1585 until 1609.

Issa, for his part, expressed his appreciation for the award and considered it a motivation to work more and serve Islam and humanity.

He gave a lecture on the means of “combating extremism and terrorism intellectually and electronically.”

Issa later met with the Maldivian Minister of Defense, Mariya Didi, during which talks focused on mechanisms of joint action in combating extremism.

He was briefed on the activities of the Maldives' National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC).

Issa also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khalil and then held a joint press conference tackling the key topics of the visit. The conference was broadcast live on Maldivian television stations.

As part of the visit’s agenda, Issa held talks with the Maldivian Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Zahir.

He also visited the Islamic Center in Male and was briefed on its activities and most prominent works.



UAE Delegation Meets French Officials to Strengthen Cooperation

Photo by WAM
Photo by WAM
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UAE Delegation Meets French Officials to Strengthen Cooperation

Photo by WAM
Photo by WAM

A high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates, led by the General Secretariat of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organizations Committee (NAMLCFTC), visited Paris to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the UAE and France in combating financial and organised crimes and strengthening international economic security, state news agency WAM reported.

The mission aimed to present the UAE’s National Strategy 2024–2027 in combating financial crimes, reflecting the UAE’s proactive efforts to strengthen international partnerships and exchange expertise in this field. The visit highlights the UAE’s commitment to activating effective communication channels to reduce financial crimes in alignment with its strategic goals and global AML/CFT standards.

Hamid Saif AlZaabi, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat and Vice Chairman of NAMLCFTC, emphasized the importance of enhancing international cooperation in tackling financial crime, stating, “France is one of the UAE’s largest trade partners, and likewise, the UAE is France’s primary trade partner in the region. This necessitates strengthening our partnership to address illicit global financial flows. This visit is part of our commitment to and belief in the importance of fostering international cooperation and exchanging expertise.

"Discussions focused on enhancing partnerships across various areas and with several partners, including the Ministries of Treasury, Justice, and Interior, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and others. We look forward to continuing our work with French partners, especially on priority issues such as global organised crime, combating drug trafficking, and mitigating shared risks between our countries.”

According to WAM, Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador to the French Republic, commended the close bilateral relations between the UAE and the French Republic, saying: “This visit marks a significant milestone to enhance the strategic and enduring partnership between the UAE and France, rooted in close cooperation and our shared commitment to global economic security and the fight against international financial crime. Through strengthened collaboration and the exchange of expertise, we aim to advance international efforts to confront financial security challenges.”

He added: “The delegation, led by the General Secretariat of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Illegal Organizations, discussed the comprehensive approach adopted by the UAE in addressing financial crimes. Furthermore, the delegation participated in technical discussions on key priority issues with our French partners. We look forward to further deepening sustainable cooperation between the UAE and France, to reinforce regional and global frameworks to combat illicit financial activities.”