Matrek Abdullah Al-Ajalin Aldosari, the Ambassador-designate of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Maldives has presented his Letter of Credence to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

During the ceremony held at the President’s Office on Monday morning, the pair discussed bilateral relations between both countries and expressed commitment to work together to keep the relationship between Maldives and Saudi Arabia, strong and lasting.

Solih expressed confidence that the enhanced ties between both countries will continue to flourish under the ambassador's tenure, and relayed well wishes to the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and Crown Prince, Mohamed Bin Salman.

He went on to express gratitude to the Saudi Kingdom for the “generous” assistance provided throughout the years through the Saudi Fund for Development. As such, the kingdom had financed the affordable housing scheme and developed the island nation’s fisheries sector, under the USD 50 million loan agreements that concluded in June 2020.

During the meeting, the president also praised the Saudi Kingdom for their “decisive actions” to contain the ongoing global Covid-19 outbreak, and welcomed the kingdom’s decision to allow Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages to resume after a one-month hiatus stemming from the pandemic.

Expressing that his administration remains determined to positively engage with the Saudi Kingdom on all matters of mutual interest, Solih also expressed gratitude for the leadership Saudi Arabia plays in the Islamic world, on international relations, including in forums such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

During a trip to Niger to participate in the 47th Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting of OIC, the Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid conducted high-level bilateral meetings with senior Saudi officials where enhancing the strong bilateral ties between both countries, was discussed.