20 December 2021(2021-12-20) (aged 85) Galolhu Cemetery, Malé, Maldives
Occupation
Politician and statesman
Umar Zahir, NIIV (Dhivehi: އުމަރު ޒާހިރު; 26 October 1936 – 20 December 2021) was a Maldivian politician. He was the first sports minister of the Maldives, serving from 1988 to 1993. As public works minister from 1993 to 2004, he oversaw the first construction phase of Hulhumalé, as well as the construction of Thilafushi and the Malé seawall.
Biography
Zahir was born on 26 October 1936.[1] He was married to Moomina Ibrahim, and they had one daughter. Moomina died in 2018 at the age of 84.[2]
Early career
Around 1950, Zahir began working at the government liaison office for Gan. He later worked in a number of jobs: headmaster of Majeediyya School, owner of Radio Maldives, and manager of Bandos Resort.[3]
Zahir served as the President of Malé Municipality from 1980 to 1993, introducing projects to improve the city and its roads.[3] In 1983, he was appointed Minister of Home Affairs and Social Services. In 1988, Social Services was moved out of the ministry's purview, and Zahir was appointed Minister of Home Affairs and Sports. This was the first sports ministry for the Maldives.[1]
Zahir served as Minister of Construction and Public Works from 1993 to 2004, with several projects on land reclamation. Under Zahir, the ministry continued the construction of Thilafushi[3] which had begun in 1992. While the island served as the main waste management site for the nearby capital of Malé, the absence of processing facilities[4] led to Thilafushi's international notoriety as "trash island". Plans for modern disposal facilities were announced in 2021.[5] The ministry also completed the first construction phase (1997–2002) of Hulhumalé. Dubbed "the island of hope" by foreign press, Hulhumalé would provide more housing for residents of Malé, one of the most densely-populated cities in the world.[6] To better protect Malé from ocean hazards, Zahir's ministry built a seawall (1995–1997) with Japanese foreign aid.[7] His ministry also built harbors in Fuvahmulah (2000–2002)[8] and other islands. After briefly returning as Minister of Home Affairs from 2004 to 2005, he was Senior Minister from 2005 to 2008.[3]
An office building in Hulhumalé was dedicated to him by the president who noted that he had performed an invaluable service to the Maldivian people as a state dignitary.[16] Currently, the office building houses some ministries.[17]