Five historic coral-stone mosques in the Maldives have advanced to the final evaluation phase for potential inscription on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List by late 2027, the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage has confirmed.
Speaking during a televised session of the Ahaa Forum on Sunday, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Heena Waleed revealed that international conservation evaluators completed comprehensive on-site inspections across the candidate islands in September.
Culmination of thirteen-year campaign
The submission represents the culmination of more than 13 years of technical documentation and architectural research aimed at securing global heritage recognition for the country's unique coral masonry traditions. The nominated properties—constructed between the 16th and 18th centuries—showcase master interlocking coral-stone carving, timber lacquer ceiling joinery, and intricate calligraphic relief panels found nowhere else in the world.
According to Minister Heena, a specialized expert delegation from UNESCO's advisory bodies visited the archipelago last month to examine structural integrity, assess buffer protection zones, and conduct consultative meetings with island communities:
"Our aspiration is that, God willing, these remarkable architectural treasures will achieve formal inscription on the World Heritage List towards the end of 2027. International recognition will safeguard our heritage and provide meaningful cultural tourism benefits to host islands," Minister Heena stated.
Preserving cultural and linguistic identity
The minister emphasized that global heritage designation would catalyze national preservation funding and attract culturally conscious international visitors to outer atolls, directly diversifying island economies beyond beach resorts.
Alongside physical heritage conservation, Minister Heena reviewed state initiatives to revitalize the Dhivehi language, including expanding the national lexicon and compiling a comprehensive Dhivehi grammar treatise slated for publication next November. Officials underscored that safeguarding ancestral mosques reinforces community pride and cultural continuity across generations.
