Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed

Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development

Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed serves as Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development of the Republic of Maldives, holding a pivotal portfolio that brings together higher-education policy, labour-market regulation, and national skills development. His mandate aligns with the Maldivian government's effort to strengthen human capital and respond to the needs of an economy anchored in tourism, services, and the blue economy, under the cabinet of President Mohamed Muizzu. Dr. Haidar previously served briefly as Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development of the Maldives before moving to the higher-education and skills portfolio. Since assuming the new role, he has launched a range of initiatives, including strengthened partnerships with regional and international academic institutions, the development of vocational pathways, and active representation of the Maldives in regional and international forums. He delivered the Maldives statement at the 6th OIC Labour Ministers Conference in Doha, reaffirming his country's commitment to decent work and social justice. Dr. Haidar holds a Bachelor's degree in Town and Country Planning from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom and a PhD in Planning Studies from University College London (UCL), receiving a special honour from the Maldivian government for his academic achievement. Combining an academic grounding in planning with executive experience in public-policy management, he is regarded as an influential voice in the Maldives on human-development issues and on equipping young talent for the labour markets of small island economies.