Saudi Crown Prince pledges 10 mosques, $1 million to Maldives

Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has pledged to give $1 million and build 10 mosques in the Maldives. The Crown Prince arrived in the Maldives on Friday on an official visit.

The pledges were made during a meeting between the Crown Prince and Maldives Islamic Affaris Minister Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Ministry of Islamic Affairs said in a statement today.

The $1 million is being donated by the Saudi Arabian government and the 10 mosques will be constructed under the Prince's personal contributions, the statement revealed.

Speaking at the meeting, Islamic Minister Sheikh Shaheem noted that Maldives and Saudi Arabia hold similar ties in religion and tradition and asked the Crown Prince for support various areas of development in the Maldives, along with support in the country's efforts to maintain its Islamic identity.

According to the Islamic Ministry, the Crown Prince pledged support in all necessary areas and expressed intentions to maintain a special relationship with the Maldives.

Locations for the 10 mosques will be decided by the Ministry, Islamic Ministry said.