The national airline, Maldivian, has been awarded the contract to expand its air ambulance services to Thailand and Dubai.

Until now, Maldivian charter flights and aircraft from India have been used to transport patients from various parts of the country. The expansion of air ambulance services is among the commitments made by President Mohamed Muizzu.

The government has already approved air ambulance flights between the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

The agreement to expand services to Thailand and Dubai was signed on Sunday at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health. The signatories were:

Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen said in a post on X on Sunday night that air ambulance services would be available for medical transfers to the UAE and Thailand when required.

“The air ambulance will be operated through internationally accredited air ambulance service providers,” he said.