MATI elects new executive board for 2026–2029 term
The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has elected its Executive Board for the 2026–2029 term during its 36th Annual General Meeting, held on 15 February 2026 at Kurumba Maldives.
The AGM brought together 112 members and stakeholders from across the tourism sector, marking a key governance milestone for the industry association. Members reviewed and approved the minutes of the previous AGM, the 2025 Annual Report, and the Financial Reports for the year, while also endorsing the association’s budget for 2026 and confirming the appointment of auditors.
As part of the meeting, members elected a 19-member Executive Board to lead MATI over the next three years. The newly elected board is chaired by Hussain Afeef, representing KASA Holdings Pvt Ltd.
Salah Shihab of Voyages Maldives Pvt Ltd and Ahmed Nazeer of Crown Company Pvt Ltd were elected as Vice-Chairmen. The position of Financial Controller was filled by Ahmed Hafeez from Lily Hotels Pvt Ltd.
Asad Ali of Driftwood Maldives Pvt Ltd was elected as Secretary General, while Iyaz Waheed of Vihamanaafushi Holdings Pvt Ltd was appointed Deputy Secretary General.
The Executive Board Members elected for the 2026–2029 cycle are:
- Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, Sun Siyam Resorts Pvt Ltd
- Amila Handunwala, Marriott International APEC
- Ibrahim Farhad, Dream Islands Development 2 Pvt Ltd
- Ibrahim Noordeen, KASA Holdings Pvt Ltd
- Ibrahim Shareef, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL)
- Ibrahim Siyad Qasim, Villa Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd
- Ismail Siyan Qasim, Villa Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd
- Mark Eletr, Leisure Holidays Pvt Ltd
- Salil Panigrahi, Atmosphere Core Pvt Ltd
- Sanjay Maniku, Universal Enterprises Ltd
- Sarah Moosa, Crown & Champa Resorts Pvt Ltd
- Visha Mahir, Universal Enterprises Ltd
- Zulaikha Manik, Sun Siyam Resorts Pvt Ltd
The AGM also included a presentation by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment outlining its regulatory agenda and work plan for 2026, followed by a review of the tourism industry’s performance in 2025. An open discussion session allowed members to engage on key industry-related matters.
The meeting concluded with remarks from the newly elected Secretary General, who highlighted the importance of collaboration, regulatory stability, and a supportive policy environment to ensure the continued growth and sustainability of the Maldivian tourism industry.
