A major telecom company is now helping keep the country’s mosques in better shape. On Thursday the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments signed a deal with Ooredoo Maldives to start the “Ooredoo Masjidhuna” initiative, a corporate social responsibility programme that will fund repairs at five mosques every year.
The work is timed to finish before Ramadan so worshippers find cleaner, more functional buildings when attendance rises. Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Ooredoo Maldives Managing Director and CEO Shadi Qawasmi formalised the arrangement at the company’s head office in Hulhumalé and later briefed the press.
Under the plan the company will support essential maintenance rather than full rebuilds. That means repainting walls, fixing damaged tiles, repairing doors and windows, upgrading lighting and tackling other basic problems that affect daily use. The ministry will pick the mosques based on community needs and existing standards. Officials say the effort is meant to keep religious facilities accessible and welcoming across the atolls.
No financial figures or list of the first five islands have been released. The ministry simply describes it as part of wider efforts to work with private firms on Islamic infrastructure.
Why Mosque Upkeep Remains a Constant Headache
Maintaining hundreds of mosques scattered across the Maldives has never been simple. Many islands have limited budgets and ageing buildings. In the Greater Malé area alone, the ministry has repeatedly pointed to rundown structures. Just days ago Minister Shaheem said all dilapidated mosques in the capital region should be rebuilt within two years, with most already having sponsors lined up. One remaining site in Henveiru is still waiting for its donor.
Local councils have also struggled with routine cleaning and minor repairs. In past years Male’ City Council complained that private contractors, often using expatriate workers, left toilets dirty and buildings poorly looked after. The council later tried shifting the work to Maldivian staff. Complaints about termite damage, broken air-conditioning and basic wear continue to surface before every Ramadan.
The government has increased mosque renovation budgets in recent years and set up a Masjid Portal for monitoring conditions. It has also created a new endowment company meant to generate income for repairs. Still, the fact that a telecom operator is being asked to cover basic painting and tile work underlines how thin the resources remain for day-to-day upkeep outside the biggest projects.
Ooredoo’s Track Record in Mosque Projects
This is not Ooredoo’s first foray into religious buildings. In 2025 the company partnered with Qatar Charity to install a full air-conditioning system at the Hulhumalé Grand Mosque (Masjid Al Sheikh Qasim bin Al-Thani) just in time for Ramadan. That mosque holds more than 1,800 people. Earlier, Ooredoo helped set up QR-code donations to the ministry’s Waqf Fund through its m-Faisaa wallet so people could contribute more easily to mosque maintenance.
The new Masjidhuna programme formalises a recurring commitment: five mosques a year, every year, focused on the practical fixes that make a difference for regular worshippers rather than grand new constructions.
What Happens Next
The ministry will identify the first batch of mosques. Works are expected to start soon enough to be finished before the next Ramadan. Beyond the five annual sites, the agreement is framed as ongoing cooperation between the state and the private sector on religious facilities.
For island communities that have waited years for cracked tiles or leaking roofs to be fixed, any extra help is welcome. Whether five mosques a year can keep pace with the wider maintenance backlog is another question. The absence of published costs or a transparent selection process also leaves room for the usual public curiosity about how priorities are set.
For now the deal is on paper. Ooredoo gets another CSR headline. The ministry gets outside funding for basic repairs. And worshippers on the chosen islands may find their local mosque looking a little less tired when they walk in for Taraweeh next year.
