The Maldives will roll out smart ID cards integrated with digital identification by next year, the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusan has announced.
The new initiative is part of the national push to digitise government services and streamline access for citizens.
Speaking during a press conference, Minister Ihusan highlighted that 272,000 individuals—80 percent of the population over the age of 10—have already been enrolled in the digital ID system. The smart ID cards will enable seamless access to a unified government services platform, OneGov, which currently integrates 17 agencies and digitises previously manual processes.
The move is a key step toward President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s vision of expanding the digital economy to 15 percent of GDP by 2030 and establishing the Maldives as a developed nation by 2040.
The government is focusing on three foundational pillars—a secure digital ID system, inter-agency data exchange infrastructure, and robust cybersecurity measures. Upgrades to the existing e-pass digital ID are also underway to address public concerns and enhance functionality.
With more people utilising the new digital framework ahead of the local council elections early next year, the administration aims to ensure all government services are accessible remotely from any island upon completion.