The official ceremony for National Day this year will be held in HA. Utheemu at 10am this Saturday. The National Day this year falls on August 14.

The President's Office said that the National Award of Honour and the National Award of Recognition will be conferred during the official ceremony. 

This year, the National Award will go to three individuals and one organization, while the National Award of Recognition will be presented to seven individuals and one company, according to the President's Office. Additionally, the National Award of Service will also be conferred to one individual posthumously.

All recipients of the award were selected by the National Awards Committee. Each recipient of the National Award of Honour will be presented with a shield of honour, a badge of honour and a commemorative certificate. Recipients of the National Award of Recognition will be presented a commemorative plaque and a certificate.  

Last year, too, the official National Day ceremony was held in Utheemu. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu previously announced that the ceremony will be held in Utheemu in 2025 and 2026. Prior to this, the ceremony had always been held in capital Male' City. 

The National Day is marked annually on Rabiul Awwal 1 on the Hijri calendar. This year, the day falls on August 14. 

The National Day commemorates the historic victory of Al Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu Al Auzam over Portuguese occupation of the Maldives. Mohamed Thakurufaanu hailed from the island of Utheemu.