Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt and Maldives sign new agreement to strengthen cooperation
Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdel Aaty met on Saturday with his Maldivian counterpart, Dr. Abdulla Khaleel, in Cairo for high-level talks aimed at strengthening political and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Both ministers expressed their commitment to deepening ties across various fields—including trade, tourism, education, and cultural exchange—tailoring cooperation to align with the development priorities of Egypt and the Maldives. They discussed increasing tourism flows, expanding scholarships for Maldivian students at Egyptian institutions such as Al-Azhar, and organizing joint cultural events to foster greater friendship between their peoples.
Regional issues were also at the forefront of the agenda. Minister Abdel Aaty shared Egypt’s latest diplomatic efforts for peace in the Middle East, highlighting the outcomes of the recent Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit and Cairo’s role in supporting a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, in partnership with the United States and regional partners. He reiterated the need for all parties to honor the ceasefire in order to stabilize the region, and outlined Egypt’s ongoing humanitarian efforts and plans to host a conference on Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction next month.
Minister Khaleel praised Egypt’s leadership in promoting peace and stability in the region and expressed the Maldives’ eagerness to benefit from Egyptian expertise in sustainable development and renewable energy.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Egypt and the Maldives signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish regular political consultations, marking a new chapter in bilateral cooperation and joint efforts to address regional and global challenges.