Nurain Appointed Chairperson of Maldives Airports Company Limited

Aisha Nurain Janah has been appointed as the Chairperson of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), the state-owned operator of Velana International Airport and one of the Maldives’ largest corporations.

She succeeds veteran businessman Mohamed Umar Manik, who chaired the MACL board for many years before resigning last year due to health concerns.

Nurain takes the helm at a pivotal time for MACL, as the company prepares to inaugurate its new international passenger terminal in July. This development is expected to significantly expand the airport’s capacity.

It follows the recent opening of several major infrastructure projects, including a new Code F runway, a state-of-the-art seaplane terminal, and a VIP terminal. The company is also actively planning and launching new initiatives to support future growth.

Previously, Nurain served as Chairperson of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) from November 2023 until her resignation in May 2024. No official reason was provided for her departure.

With over a decade of experience in corporate governance, finance, and strategy across sectors such as construction, finance, and tourism, Nurain currently serves as Vice Chair of Hotels and Resorts Investment Maldives (HARIM), her family’s legacy business.

She is widely respected for her ability to transform enterprises into sustainable, diversified organizations grounded in transparency, equity, and efficient governance.

In addition to her corporate leadership, Nurain is the founder of the Kandūfā Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on leadership development, cultural heritage preservation, and climate action. The foundation emphasizes empowering women and youth through an intersectional approach that addresses the root causes of social and environmental challenges.

In recognition of her leadership and impact, she was recently named to the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders (YGL) Class of 2025. She joins a prestigious cohort of 116 individuals under the age of 40 who are driving transformative change globally.