Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed announced last night that Sheikh Dr. Yasser Al-Dawsary, an Imam and Khateeb at the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, will be visiting the Maldives in the coming days. 

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 38th National Quran Competition, Minister Shaheem said that a confirmed date for the visit by the Imam, loved and revered by Maldivians, will be announced later.

Shaheem noted that this is the first visit from an Imam of Masjid al-Haram after 43 years. The first time Maldives saw a visit from an Imam of Masjid al-Haram was for the opening of the Islamic Centre, when Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Subayyil visited. 

In 2025, Masjid al-Nabawi Imam Sheikh Dr Salah Al-Budair also visited the Maldives.