Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MALDIVES AND MBS GLOBAL INVESTMENTS PLEDGE $8.8 BILLION TO CREATE THE MALDIVES INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE

Business

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MALDIVES AND MBS GLOBAL INVESTMENTS PLEDGE $8.8 BILLION TO CREATE THE MALDIVES INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE
Business

Business

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MALDIVES AND MBS GLOBAL INVESTMENTS PLEDGE $8.8 BILLION TO CREATE THE MALDIVES INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE

2025-05-05 00:30 Last Updated At:00:45

MALÉ, Maldives, May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Maldives Government and MBS Global Investments are to create an US$8.8bn Maldives International Financial Centre (MIFC) - a wholly sustainable, Financial Freezone in Malé, Maldives, designed for and created to attract global financial institutions, fintech pioneers, and global digital Nomads.

Allowing the Maldives to diversify beyond tourism, it will attract the future of finance and position Malé as the premier global business and financial hub in the Indian Ocean through an integrated, mixed-use urban district.

MIFC will offer no corporate tax, tax-free inheritance, ownership as per the constitution of the Maldives, and privacy. Combined with no residency requirements, it's set to attract digital nomads, entrepreneurs, and wealth creators seeking freedom without borders.

Residents will benefit from multi-currency banking and access to offshore private banking. Future-ready regulations will support digital assets, and green finance - making MIFC not just a financial hub, but a destination for those investing in the legacy of future generations.

Due to be completed by 2030, it will be easily accessible from any part of the world and the aim is to notably increase the country's GDP within four years with projected revenue to be well over US $1bn by the fifth year.

The centrepiece of MIFC is a state-of-the-art conference centre with capacity for 3,500 people. The multi-purpose convention venue will host leading global conferences, cultural events and innovation-driven hackathons establishing Male as leading assembly hub, driving all year round engagement in the Maldives and further supporting the wider, already established hospitality industry

The plan includes three iconic residential and office towers designed for international HQs and regional offices, high-end, sea front branded residences, world-renowned hotel brands, vibrant and one-of-a-kind retail experience, Oceanographic Museum, Mosque, and leading education facilities including an International School.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said, "With the MIFC, we are shaping the Maldives of tomorrow, a beacon of innovation and national pride that will thrive in harmony with nature. The financial centre will be a symbol of economic resilience and will set a new global benchmark that will massively benefit the people of the Maldives for generations to come."

Minister of Finance for the Maldives said, "This is a momentous project. It offers a great opportunity to diversify our economy beyond tourism in line with our ambitions and will attract the best businesses and visionary entrepreneurs in the world." 

Nadeem Hussain, CEO of MBS Global Investments said, "The financial centre will set a new global benchmark, advancing financial innovation by at least two decades. It is the next evolution of what has been happening in other financial centres around the globe."

MIFC will have a fully climate-resilient infrastructure, and the architecture and public spaces will be powered exclusively by renewable energy. The upper level of the development will be entirely car-free, with all transport and logistics infrastructure located underground to preserve a pedestrian-friendly, open-air environment.

It will offer a holistic lifestyle rooted in wellness and longevity - designed to be one of the most desirable places to live and work. It will feature world-class sports facilities, cutting-edge longevity and wellness centres, and shaded running and cycling tracks woven through expansive green spaces. Complementing its state-of-the-art office spaces, MIFC will also be home to premium retail, celebrated F&B destinations, and dynamic cultural venues - creating a truly integrated live-work-play environment.

This dynamic mixed-use development has been designed by master planner Architect Gianni Ranaulo, every structure from the overarching master plan to the individual buildings are inspired by the local fauna and marine eco-system. Ranaulo incorporates environmentally conscious practices in all projects. The total size of the development is 780,000 sqm where more than 6,500 people can reside, and an expected daily footfall of 35,000.

www.mifc.gov.mv

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MALDIVES AND MBS GLOBAL INVESTMENTS PLEDGE $8.8 BILLION TO CREATE THE MALDIVES INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MALDIVES AND MBS GLOBAL INVESTMENTS PLEDGE $8.8 BILLION TO CREATE THE MALDIVES INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MALDIVES AND MBS GLOBAL INVESTMENTS PLEDGE $8.8 BILLION TO CREATE THE MALDIVES INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MALDIVES AND MBS GLOBAL INVESTMENTS PLEDGE $8.8 BILLION TO CREATE THE MALDIVES INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE

SINGAPORE, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda has introduced the Booking Form Bot, an AI-powered chatbot designed to answer travelers' booking-related questions at the final stage of the booking journey. The new tool aims to help travelers answer last-minute questions and complete their reservations with ease and confidence.

Internal research by Agoda found that 28% of users navigate back to the property page from the booking page to re-check trip details. Customer research revealed that the main reasons to pause or exit the booking journey are questions about promo codes, cancellation policies, and price discrepancies. The Booking Form Bot addresses this by providing instant, context-aware answers to questions such as "Can I cancel for free?" "Does this booking qualify for cashback?", etc.

Building on the success of Agoda's Property AMA Bot, which answers over 30,000 hotel-related questions daily, the Booking Form Bot extends this capability to the checkout experience. The bot automatically understands the user's booking session, including the selected property, room type, rate plan, and associated terms, allowing it to deliver accurate, personalized responses without requiring users to repeat details or leave the page.

Users can access the Booking Form Bot by tapping the chat icon on the booking form page, available through the Agoda app and mobile browser.

Idan Zalzberg, Chief Technology Officer at Agoda, shared, "Helping travelers stay informed at every step of their journey is central to building trust in our platform. At the booking stage, last-minute questions often arise around cancellation options or payment terms. The Booking Form Bot provides instant answers right when travelers need them, helping them book with confidence.

With the launch of the Booking Form Bot, Agoda continues to invest in AI-powered tools that make travel planning simpler, faster, and more intuitive for millions of travelers worldwide.

Explore Agoda's offerings, including over 6 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities, all in one booking. Visit Agoda.com or download the Agoda mobile app for the best deals.

SINGAPORE, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda has introduced the Booking Form Bot, an AI-powered chatbot designed to answer travelers' booking-related questions at the final stage of the booking journey. The new tool aims to help travelers answer last-minute questions and complete their reservations with ease and confidence.

Internal research by Agoda found that 28% of users navigate back to the property page from the booking page to re-check trip details. Customer research revealed that the main reasons to pause or exit the booking journey are questions about promo codes, cancellation policies, and price discrepancies. The Booking Form Bot addresses this by providing instant, context-aware answers to questions such as "Can I cancel for free?" "Does this booking qualify for cashback?", etc.

Building on the success of Agoda's Property AMA Bot, which answers over 30,000 hotel-related questions daily, the Booking Form Bot extends this capability to the checkout experience. The bot automatically understands the user's booking session, including the selected property, room type, rate plan, and associated terms, allowing it to deliver accurate, personalized responses without requiring users to repeat details or leave the page.

Users can access the Booking Form Bot by tapping the chat icon on the booking form page, available through the Agoda app and mobile browser.

Idan Zalzberg, Chief Technology Officer at Agoda, shared, "Helping travelers stay informed at every step of their journey is central to building trust in our platform. At the booking stage, last-minute questions often arise around cancellation options or payment terms. The Booking Form Bot provides instant answers right when travelers need them, helping them book with confidence.

With the launch of the Booking Form Bot, Agoda continues to invest in AI-powered tools that make travel planning simpler, faster, and more intuitive for millions of travelers worldwide.

Explore Agoda's offerings, including over 6 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities, all in one booking. Visit Agoda.com or download the Agoda mobile app for the best deals.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Agoda Launches AI-Powered Booking Bot to Help Travelers Book with Confidence

Agoda Launches AI-Powered Booking Bot to Help Travelers Book with Confidence

Recommended Articles