South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, a lawmaker from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), was removed from Parliament on Wednesday morning after a heated argument with Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel. The dispute arose when Meekail accused Khaleel of avoiding questions about a May 5 meeting between President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Fahad Saud Alshalan, initially described as a Saudi prince.
The meeting followed Alshalan’s attendance at the signing of a $8.8 billion joint venture agreement between the Maldives and MBS Global Investments, a Dubai-based company, to establish the Maldives International Financial Centre (MIFC). The President’s Office had called Alshalan “His Royal Highness Prince Fahad Saud Alshalan of Saudi Arabia” but later deleted this statement and photos from its website.
It was revealed that Alshalan is only a distant relative of the Saudi royal family, with no official government role.In Parliament, Meekail questioned Khaleel about Alshalan’s royal status, why Saudi embassy officials did not attend the meeting, and whether the incident harmed Maldives-Saudi relations. He also asked if the government admitted to making a mistake by removing the statement and photos.
Khaleel responded that Alshalan is the son of a Saudi princess and was in the Maldives for personal business. He said President Muizzu can choose whom to meet, and the incident did not affect the “close and brotherly” Maldives-Saudi relations, which he believes will grow stronger. Khaleel accused the opposition of trying to scare off foreign investors, urging caution to attract investment and prosperity.Unsatisfied, Meekail pressed Khaleel for clearer answers, accusing him of dodging the questions.
He raised a point of order, but Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla rejected it, saying Khaleel had answered adequately. Meekail continued to protest, leading Abdul Raheem to order him to leave the chamber.The controversy began in June when Meekail requested Khaleel to address the issue in Parliament. Khaleel was scheduled to appear on June 14 but cited a busy schedule. The government’s initial claim that Alshalan was a prince drew criticism, with former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom calling him a “scammer.” The removal of the “prince” references followed objections from the Saudi government, highlighting the sensitivity of the issue.
