A Dubai family office managing assets for Qatari royal Sheikh Nayef bin Eid Al Thani is planning a massive $8.8 billion investment in the Maldives to transform the island nation into a global blockchain and digital asset hub.
The initiative, led by MBS Global Investments, aims to reduce the Maldives’ reliance on tourism and fishing by positioning it as a destination for digital finance. The scale of the project is striking—it exceeds the country’s entire GDP of approximately $7 billion (2023, World Bank).
Despite having virtually no current crypto infrastructure, the Maldives is under growing economic pressure, facing debt repayments of up to $700 million this year and $1 billion in 2026. The proposed blockchain development will include an 830,000 square-meter International Financial Centre expected to house 6,500 residents and create 16,000 jobs—roughly 3% of the population.
MBS Global has already raised around $4–5 billion through its network of family offices and wealthy individuals. Its existing portfolio spans sectors like fintech, real estate, and infrastructure, and it has recently backed digital asset manager Varys Capital. The firm is also exploring economic partnerships in Brunei and operates a special economic zone in Malaysian Borneo.
MBS CEO Nadeem Hussain noted that family offices are increasingly diversifying into blockchain investments, shifting away from traditionally conservative asset mixes.
