Dhauru

Welcome to Episode 44 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. This week, Hiriga Ahmed Zahir and Mohamed Usham are joined by former Home Minister Imran Abdulla for an in-depth discussion on the controversial Ras Malé development agreement with UAE-based Eagle Hills, national sovereignty and the political debates surrounding the project. Imran, who is leading the nationwide 'Maldivian Land for Maldivians' m...

Welcome to Episode 43 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. This week, Hiriga Ahmed Zahir and Mohamed Usham are joined by tourism consultant Abdulla Rasheed (Eyesee) for an in-depth discussion on local tourism, its economic impact on island communities and the future of community-based tourism in the Maldives. Eyesee examines the growth of tourism on inhabited islands, the successes and challenges of the curren...

In today’s episode of Fannuveri Ekuverin, we sit down with makeup artist Lalla as she reflects on her journey from starting out to building a thriving career. She gives us an inside look at the real challenges behind the scenes, how she overcame them, and the crucial takeaways every creative needs to hear.

Welcome to Episode 42 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. This week, Hiriga Ahmed Zahir and Mohamed Usham are joined by lawyer Fathimth Ema Hassan for an in-depth discussion on human trafficking, forced labour, discrimination against expatriate workers and the challenges of protecting migrant workers’ rights in the Maldives. Ema examines the realities faced by expatriate workers in the Maldives, from workplac...

Welcome to Episode 41 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. This week, Hiriga Ahmed Zahir and Mohamed Usham are joined by former Supreme Court Justice and legal expert Husnu Suood for a discussion on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), judicial independence and the reforms he believes are needed within the Maldivian judiciary. Suood examines the current structure and composition of the JSC and discusses how...

Welcome to Episode 40 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. This week, Hiriga Ahmed Zahir Mohamed Usham are joined by Ahmed Ameel, Managing Director of Dhivehi Insurance, for a discussion on Aasandha, health insurance and the future of healthcare financing in the Maldives. Ameel discusses the current structure of the state-funded Aasandha scheme, the changes he believes are needed to make the system more sustai...

Welcome to Episode 39 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. This week, Hiriga Ahmed Zahir and Mohamed Usham are joined by former Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam for a discussion on climate change, urban planning and the choices the Maldives faces as environmental pressures continue to shape development. Aslam discusses the impact of climate change and the current El Niño ...

Welcome to this week’s episode of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. Today, Hiriga Ahmed Zahir and Mohamed Usham are joined by Ashia Leela Ahmed (Leela), Dean of Students at The Maldives National University (MNU), for a conversation on education, curriculum reform and how schools and universities can better prepare young people for life beyond the classroom. As discussions continue around the future of educatio...

Welcome to a brand new episode of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. Today, hosts Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir take a deeper look at one of the Maldives’ most persistent challenges: corruption, how it takes root, and how it spreads through different levels of governance. We are joined by Ismail Sajid, former head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) at the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), to examine...

Welcome to a brand new episode of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. Today, hosts Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir connect two massive economic issues threatening the backbone of the Maldivian economy: the new OTA tax and the ongoing dollar shortage. We are joined by Mohamed Shaaz Waleed, founder of Resort Life Maldives, to unpack the reality on the ground. The government has repeatedly pointed fingers at the...

In Episode 35 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa, Imthiyaz Fahmy (Inthi) draws on his 15 years of parliamentary experience to expose the systemic flaws within our legislature. We explore how the Majlis has become a "rubber stamp" for the government, failing to adequately question the state on critical issues like national debt, healthcare, and social protection. The conversation tackles the toxic cu...

We thought the toxic smoke from Thilafushi was a thing of the past. However, recent fires have exposed the severe capacity limits and systemic failures of our current waste management strategy. In this episode of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa, hosts Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir sit down with Afrah Ismail, Co-founder of Zero Waste Maldives. Together, they break down the uncomfortable reality of Malé&#3...

With Huvan Band’s upcoming show on the 15th of August, band members Po and Yoosuf reflect on how the band came together and the making of their debut album ‘Mithan’.

Has the Maldivian drug crisis evolved faster than our national response? While chemical synthetics like Meth and party drugs flood the streets—causing alarming spikes in drug-induced psychosis—our rehabilitation framework remains stuck in outdated models built for a previous generation. In Episode 33 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa, hosts Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir sit down with Ali Adeeb—Internati...

Why are young Maldivians stepping back from traditional economic roles, and is it fair to label an entire generation as "lazy"? In Episode 32 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa, hosts Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir are joined by vocational education expert Mohamed Nazeef and youth journalist Ibrahim Maahil Mohamed. We break down the systemic barriers facing young people today—from unaffordable h...

Welcome to Episode 31 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. Today, hosts Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir tackle the daily nightmare of Malé’s urban gridlock. We are joined by Hussain Ziyath, Urbanist and President of the Association of Maldivian Planners, to analyse the physical and economic carrying capacity of the capital. We dive deep into the statistics and policies driving the congestion, analysing ever...

Welcome to Episode 30 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. Today, hosts Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir tackle one of the most pressing existential threats to the Maldives: extreme climate events and the impending Super El Niño. We are joined by Thahumeena, a weather forecaster from the MET Office, to break down exactly what these massive climate shifts mean for our islands. From erratic and severe weather...

Welcome to Episode 29 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. Today, for our World Population Day special, hosts Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir look beyond the concrete infrastructure and focus on the humans driving the statistics. We are joined by Shadiya Ibrahim, Head of Office at UNFPA Maldives, to discuss a quiet crisis: the Maldives is graying rapidly. With birth rates dropping and the cost of living sky...

Welcome to Episode 28 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. Today, Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir are joined by former Finance Minister Dr Ahmed Inaz for an in-depth discussion on the Maldives’ economy, public policy and the decisions shaping the country’s financial future. Dr Inaz served as Minister of Finance and Treasury from April 2011 to 2012 under the administration of former President Mohamed Nasheed...

Welcome to Episode 27 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. Today, Hiriga Ahmed Zahir are joined by former MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail to unpack one of the most heavily debated dynamics in the country today. As the political landscape continues to evolve, all eyes are on the relationship between Fayyaz Ismail and former President Mohamed Nasheed. In this unfiltered sit-down, Fayyaz addresses the rumors, the s...

Are political coalitions actually necessary in our presidential system, or are they just a recipe for backdoor deals? In Episode 26 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa, hosts Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir are joined by former parliamentarian Hassan Latheef to debate the complex math and hidden realities of Maldivian elections. With PNC winning the 2023 election essentially on their own, and smaller partie...

The tipping point for democratic change in the Maldives was the national outrage over prison torture. So why are the cells still fundamentally the same? In Episode 25 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa, hosts Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir are joined by Adhadhu journalists Shahuzan and Leevaan. They bravely detail the inhuman treatment, the psychological toll, and the shocking physical conditions they end...

What is really holding Addu City back? In Episode 24 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa, hosts Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir are joined by a man whose political career is deeply intertwined with the south: Abdulla Sodiq (Sobe). As a three-term Mayor, former State Minister for Addu Development, and the current MDP candidate for the Hithadhoo Uthuru by-election, Sobe brings a wealth of insider knowledge to...

Is the Maldivian criminal justice system being hijacked for political gain? In Episode 23 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa, hosts Naaif Ahmed and Hiriga Ahmed Zahir are joined by former Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem for an unfiltered look into the state of our courts and law enforcement. We dive straight into the systematic tactics driving modern political witch-hunts, exposing the reality of fake poli...

Former President Mohamed Nasheed takes the mic for a highly anticipated Episode 22 of Ehbasve Dhebasvamaa. Running for the MDP Chairperson seat, Nasheed is back with a bold new vision. In this exclusive conversation, he breaks down his 'Bodu Badhalu' reform agenda, his comprehensive plan to reform the constitution and completely change the style of governance in the Maldives. We don't...