Saudi Arabia's Minister of Interior, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, on Friday arrived in the Maldives on an official visit.
Local newspaper Mihaaru reported that the interior minister is scheduled to call on President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Minister of Defence and National Security Adam Shareef, and Minister of Home Affairs Azleen Ahmed during his two-day visit.
The government is yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter.
According to sources, the prince is accompanied by some members of the royal family. They are staying at the resorts of Anantara, Reethi Rah and Naladhoo.
The delegation of over 150 officials is scheduled to depart from Maldives on Sunday.
This is the first time top officials of the Saudi government are visiting Maldives after their monarch, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, cancelled his visit last year March.
The cancellation was preceded by much criticism from the public, which had accused the Maldivian government of planning to sell off Faafu Atoll to the Saudi royal family. The government had refuted the allegations, and explained that Saudi Arabia was to undertake a USD 10 billion development project in the atoll.
However the government had harshly slated the opposition, accusing them of hindering the project.
Sign In