News Desk
In the quiet hours of Saturday morning, at 6:30 am in Singapore, the Maldives lost one of its greatest visionaries. Mohamed Umar “MU” Manik, the man whose grit and foresight helped turn a cluster of islands into one of the world’s most sought-after holiday destinations, passed away at the age of 78 while undergoing treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital.
To call Manik a pioneer would be an understatement. Long before the Maldives became synonymous with luxury escapes, overwater villas, and turquoise lagoons, Manik saw the country’s untapped potential. In 1971, he sailed with his longtime friend Champa Hussain Afeef and Ahmed Naseem to scout for dive spots around the atolls. A year later, he was at the centre of the country’s first resort project — Kurumba Village.
“He did it all,” one tourism insider recalled. “From buying fresh fish at the market to running the kitchen and managing the food and beverage operations, Manik wasn’t just building a resort; he was building an industry.”
That entrepreneurial spirit never faded. Through his Miuman Tourist Agency, Manik worked to bring direct flights from Europe, selling the Maldives not just as a destination but as an experience. His frequent trips to Europe, including regular appearances at the ITB Berlin travel fair, helped position the Maldives on the global tourism map. Today, Universal Enterprises, the company he built, operates eight resorts: Kurumba, Huvafenfushi, Milaidhoo, Baros, Kandolhu, Velassaru, Dhigali, and Kagi — all standard-bearers of Maldivian hospitality.
Manik’s vision extended beyond his own resorts. As the founder and long-serving chairman of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), he was a voice of guidance and unity for the sector, shaping policies and standards that continue to define Maldivian tourism today.
But Manik’s story was not limited to tourism. He began his public service journey in 1971 at the Ministry of Agriculture, rising to the role of Deputy Minister during President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration. After nearly two decades in government, he left in 1990 but remained a steady hand in national development. He later served as Chairman of the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) from 2013 to 2024, overseeing major projects at Velana International Airport, including the development of new runways and terminals. His leadership also extended to Island Aviation Services and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA).
Manik’s success never distanced him from his people. In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, he dispatched clean water to affected islands and donated a dialysis machine to IGMH. Through the Universal Foundation, he helped train Maldivian doctors, quietly investing in the future of the nation.
Over his lifetime, Manik’s contributions were recognised with the National Award of Recognition (1982), the National Award of Honour (2002), and the Order of the Dignified Rule of the Muleege Dynasty (ODRMD) in 2011. During the Golden Jubilee of Maldivian tourism, he was honoured with the President’s Tourism Gold Award for his lifetime of service to the industry he helped create.
A member of the prominent Kolige family, Manik was part of a lineage deeply embedded in the Maldives’ economic and social transformation. His family includes notable figures in shipping, business, and medicine, underscoring a legacy of public service and entrepreneurship.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu led tributes to the tourism pioneer, calling Manik’s efforts “pivotal in establishing the Maldives as a world-renowned tourist destination.” In a message shared on X, the President expressed “deep sorrow” and prayed for strength for his family and eternal peace for his soul.
As the Maldives reflects on the passing of a man whose work laid the foundation for an entire industry, there is quiet gratitude for the legacy MU Manik leaves behind; one of vision, resilience, and a deep love for the islands he called home.
