Renowned tycoon Abdula Jabir has called on businessmen to join the Joint Opposition, noting that the end of incumbent President Abdulla Yameen's rule 'is fast approaching'.

Jabir, a former parliamentarian, said this in a tweet sent out in Dhivehi on Saturday.

He said that 'it is almost time for the people to win back power, with opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih', adding that this is the 'hope of the Maldivian people'.

Noting that all sides point to Solih's victory in September's polls, Jabir called on his 'fellow businessmen' to quickly join the opposition.

Jabir, who is also the political advisor for former President Mohamed Nasheed, has been working with opposition and has been living in exile in Sri Lanka. Authorities cancelled his passport in June 2017.

His wife, former attorney general Diyana Saeed denounced the travel ban imposed on him as having 'no legal basis', describing it as 'an attempt to intimidate' her husband.

He was granted political asylum in the United Kingdom earlier this year.