Revenue from Zakat House Leasing to Support Eligible Zakat Recipients, Minister Shaheem Confirms

Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, has announced an initiative to lease multiple storeys of the planned Zakat House building. The revenue generated from these leases will be allocated to individuals eligible for Zakat, according to him.

In a recent media briefing, Minister Shaheem announced that the forthcoming building will be named ‘Bayt al-Zakat.’ Construction is scheduled to begin this year, according to him, with the building set to rise to ten storeys. The structure will include dedicated spaces for the Zakat House and additional areas intended for rental to generate revenue, he added.

Minister Shaheem underscored that the revenue generated from leasing the storeys will be subsequently distributed to those eligible for Zakat. He initially announced the commencement of the Zakat House construction in November 2024, with the project scheduled to begin in 2025. The land plot for the proposed building has already been allocated, he said.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has prioritised raising awareness of Zakat, the obligatory charitable contribution that Muslims are required to pay as part of their faith. This initiative seeks to enhance the collection and distribution of Zakat to those in need. To facilitate this, President Dr Muizzu established a dedicated institution to improve the efficiency of Zakat collection and distribution.

In 2024, heightened efforts to raise awareness about Zakat led to a record collection of USD 6.55 million as Zakat al-Mal— the highest amount collected to date. Zakat al-Mal, a mandatory form of almsgiving in Islam, constitutes a structured approach to wealth purification and societal welfare, obligating Muslims to annually donate a portion of their wealth to assist those in need. In comparison, the state collected USD 5.80 million through Zakat al-Mal in 2023.