The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has officially been entrusted with the collection of Zakat-al-Mal (property zakat) under the newly enacted Zakat Act.
The agreement was signed by Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed on behalf of the Maldives Zakat House and Commissioner of Taxation Hassan Zareer on behalf of MIRA.
MIRA had already been managing zakat collection since 2016 under an agreement between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and the authority. Previously, it was managed by the Islamic Ministry, and by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs before that.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Shaheem noted that the Zakat Act, the country’s first, will come into force on 1 January 2026, giving Maldives Zakat House legal status.
The Minister noted that the Zakat Act will allow MIRA to be represented in the Zakat Council. This in turn will strengthen collaboration between the two institutions to improve the zakat system. He added that MIRA has also facilitated charity and endowment funds, making donations easier for the public.