Minister of State for Homeland Security, Labour and Technology
Assistant Professor (PhD, MSc, MBCS)
Head of Maldives Digital Service (MDS) | 15th January 2026 to Present
Head of National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) | 20th October 2024 to Present
Head of Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM) | 20th October 2024 to Present
Former Head of National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT) |07th December 2023 to 14th January 2026
Dr. Mohamed Kinaanath is a National Award-Winning Technologist in the Maldives. He is the Minister of State for Homeland Security and Technology. He is heading three technology Government agencies in the Maldives: Head of Maldives Digital Service (MDS), Head of National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA) and the Head of Communication Authority of Maldives (CAM).
Dr. Kinaanath has a Doctoral Degree in “PhD in Information Technology” from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He has a “Master of e-Commerce” at Distinction Level from Griffith University, Australia. He has an Undergraduate Honours Degree in “Computer Science” from University of Brighton, UK.
Dr. Kinaanath is an Assistant Professor in ICT and Artificial Intelligence. He worked at The President’s Office, UNICEF Maldives Office, Villa College as the Head of Information Technology totaling over a period of 28 years. He lectured at higher education institutions in the Maldives and New Zealand for 25 years. He has taught well to over 10,000 students in: ICT, Business and Academic Research. He also has supervised 130 master’s degree Dissertations and 100 Undergraduate Final Year Projects.
Minister of State for Homeland Security, Labour and Technology
Dr. Ibrahim Shiyam is a pioneering Maldivian technology leader and digital transformation strategist with over two decades of experience building national digital infrastructure and modernizing public sector systems. He previously served as Minister of State for Transport and Civil Aviation.
He served as the first Project Director at the National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT), leading work on foundational government platforms including the Digital Identity Platform. Over his career, he has led the design and implementation of major digital systems across the judiciary, telecommunications, higher education, and transport sectors, including secure nationwide court networks, preliminary study and early design work for a judiciary case management system, early public-sector metropolitan networks, the rapid development of a national e-Portal for transport services during COVID-19, and national telecom backbone operations supporting enterprise connectivity. Earlier in his career, Dr. Shiyam worked abroad as a Software Engineer at a Microsoft Gold Partner company, co-developing a proof-of-concept enterprise solution with cutting edge .NET3, that was showcased during the launch of Windows Vista in 2007.
Dr. Shiyam holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of York, UK, and is among the first Maldivians to earn a doctorate in the field. His research focused on formal verification of system confidentiality, and he developed a dedicated programming language as part of his doctoral research, along with supporting verification tools. He graduated first in his Master’s cohort, receiving a Special Government Award, and earned both his master’s degree in information technology and bachelor’s degree in computing from universities in Australia. He pioneered mobile application development in the Maldives in 2006, before the iPhone era, and has served as a Visiting Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Database Systems.
Deputy Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology
Deputy Minister Abdulla Hussain was appointed to the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology in December 2023, where he serves as a key executive at the National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT). With over ten years of distinguished technology leadership, he has progressed through pivotal roles, including Chief Technology Officer, developing expertise in building and enhancing digital infrastructure that strengthens government capabilities.
Deputy Minister Hussain plays an integral role in advancing the Maldives 2.0 Digital Transformation agenda across multiple strategic pillars, with particular focus on developing modern legal frameworks for digital governance. His leadership contributes directly to positioning the Maldives at the forefront of digital innovation and security.
He holds a Master of Science in Strategic Information Systems with Business Management from the University of Technology MARA, Malaysia, where he received the Vice Chancellor's Award of Excellence. His cybersecurity research has been published in the ACM Digital Library through the Networking Information Systems & Security Conference.
As an alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program 2025, themed "Advancing Economic Prosperity: An Open, Reliable, and Secure Digital Economy," Deputy Minister Hussain represented the United States program's focus on digital transformation. He has also showcased the Maldives' digitalization achievements at the Small Island Developing States 4 Conference, demonstrating his commitment to regional technological advancement and international collaboration in digital governance.
Deputy Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology
Deputy Minister Mohamed Mauroof is a highly accomplished telecommunications professional with a remarkable 25-year career, distinguished by an unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. His robust educational foundation, comprising an Honors degree in Computer Networks, a master’s in business administration, and various leadership program completions, equips him with a unique blend of technical mastery and acute strategic business insight, essential for navigating the complexities of the modern digital sector.
Throughout his extensive career, Deputy Minister Mauroof has skillfully navigated the dynamic telecom landscape, consistently driven significant growth and fostering innovation. His experience spans a wide array of roles, from deep technical positions to influential leadership roles, showcasing his profound versatility and comprehensive depth of industry knowledge.
His core strengths are rooted in a profound understanding of telecommunications encompassing network infrastructure, protocols, and emerging technologies and his exceptional ability to translate this technical acumen into impactful, effective business strategies. Deputy Minister Mauroof is also a recognized, inspiring leader, adept at guiding diverse teams, fostering collaborative environments, and cultivating an innovative work culture. His sharp analytical and superior problem-solving skills are crucial in developing inventive solutions for the industry's most intricate challenges.
Throughout his illustrious career, Deputy Minister Mauroof has been instrumental in the successful implementation of cutting-edge technologies, expertly leading projects that have significantly enhanced operational efficiency, and crucially shaping the strategic direction of the organizations he has served.
Deputy Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology
A results-oriented professional currently serving as Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Homeland Security & Technology, with over a decade of experience in public sector leadership, institutional governance, and financial oversight. Known for leading government-wide initiatives focused on strategic oversight, digital transformation, and inter-agency coordination.
Previously served as Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Community Empowerment, where responsibilities included heading the policy development and contributing directly to the National Spatial Plan 2020–2040 and the Strategic Action Plan 2019–2023. Also held roles as Head of the Maldives National Institute of Sports and Chair of the Maldives National Anti-Doping Agency, advancing public accountability and institutional reform in the youth and sports sectors.
Currently pursuing ACCA, with focused knowledge in Financial Accounting, Business & Technology, Corporate & Business Law, Management Accounting, and Performance Management—enhancing capabilities in financial leadership, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning.
Additional experience includes serving as Project Accountant and Administrator for the JW Marriott Maldives Resort Project under Bon Free Pvt Ltd, managing finance, HR, procurement, and logistics. Previously worked at Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) in administration and procurement, and Bank of Maldives (BML) in frontline banking. Holds current and past leadership roles at Dhiconomy Pvt Ltd and RELLS Pvt Ltd, contributing to innovation and operational excellence in the private sector.
Senior Political Director
Mr. Abdulla Nishan was appointed as the Senior Political Director at the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology on February 20, 2024. Mr. Abdulla Nishan has been working at the Maldives Digital Service Fuvahmulah Office under the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology since March 10, 2024.
Political Director
Ms. Khadeeja Nafia was appointed as the Political Director at the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology on April 8, 2024. Ms. Khadeeja Nafia has been working at the Maldives Digital Service Fuvahmulah Office under the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology since May 28, 2024.
