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Saudi state minister and the visiting minister unfurled the Maldivian flag on the embassy premises. After the opening ceremony, the newly appointed Maldivian Embassador Hussain Shihab presented his credentials. Arab News reports:

“We are happy to have opened our embassy in the Saudi capital, which is the first Maldivian mission in the Middle East,” Shahid told Arab News.

“We chose Saudi Arabia as the first destination to have our foreign mission in the region because the Kingdom, which hosts millions of pilgrims in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah each year, is not only a leader in the Muslim world but also as a strategic hub,” the minister said, pointing out that the Maldives has been a Muslim country for well over 855 years.

“Saudi Arabia plays an important role in unifying the Islamic Ummah and we are happy that we have stepped into this holy soil at a time when there is a strong need for unity among the world Muslim community,” he noted.

Mr. Hussain Shihab said that his country is now spreading its diplomatic wings in Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing, Geneva and Saudi Arabia. As a country, Saudi Arabia has great significance. It is a pilgrim destination and business hub. Every year, hundreds and thousands of Muslims from all over the world come to Makkah for Haj. Maldives is a Muslim country and every year, three thousand Maldivians come to Saudi Arabia for Haj. The new embassy in cooperation with the Honorary Consul Abdul Hameed Hanaffi, will also offer consular services to the Maldivian expatriates and others.

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Arab News