The government has conveyed National Day greetings to the Saudi royalty, expressing good wishes to King Salman Bn Abdulaziz.

The President’s Ofice announced this on Saturday, adding that President Abdulla Yameen had wished to strengthen ties between the two countries in areas concerning Islam.

“With the grace of Almighty Allah the existing brotherly ties and development partnership between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia, based on the core values of Islam, reciprocity and understanding, will go from strength to strength in the years ahead” President Yameen’s message read.

The message included Salman’s son, Muhammmad bin Salman, who faced controversy earlier this year after a leaked audio clip revealed that he was in talks with the Maldivian government to purchase islands in Faafu Atoll.