Maldives President Appoints Tax Commissioner Zareer as New Finance Minister

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has officially appointed Hassan Zareer, former Commissioner General of Taxation, as the country’s third Finance Minister in the current administration. 

The appointment was formalised at a ceremony held at the President’s Office this afternoon, where Zareer presented his credentials and took the oath of office.

Zareer steps into the role following the resignation of Moosa  Zameer, who held the finance portfolio since 30 September 2024. Zameer submitted his letter of resignation to President Muizzu citing health reasons, bringing an end to a tenure that began after the sudden departure of the government’s first Finance Minister, Dr Mohamed Shafeeq, who stepped down as part of a cabinet reshuffle.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Muizzu praised Zareer’s extensive experience in public finance, noting his “proven track record in fiscal management and tax administration.” 

Zareer holds a Bachelor of Accounting and a Master of Science in Finance from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). He is also a Fellow Chartered Management Accountant (FCMA, CGMA) in the United Kingdom and a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) in Australia.

He has served in several senior positions within the Ministry of Finance and the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA). He was Deputy Commissioner General of Taxation from 2010 to 2019 and Chief Public Accounts Executive of the Ministry of Finance from 2007 to 2010.

The appointment marks a leadership change at the helm of the Ministry of Finance, as the government seeks to address ongoing economic challenges and advance its fiscal agenda in the coming year.