Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has been awarded the Special November 3 Shield of Honor in recognition of his leadership during the 1988 coup attempt.

The shield was presented to the former president by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu at a ceremony held Monday morning to mark Victory Day, commemorated annually on November 3.

The honor acknowledges the decisive actions taken by President Maumoon during the 1988 mercenary attack on Malé City, an assault that sought to destabilize the Maldivian state and threaten its independence. The award highlights his leadership and composure in managing one of the most perilous moments in the nation’s modern history.

The commemorative shield was designed by Brigadier General (Retired) Abdul Matheen Ahmed, a long-serving member of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), who currently serves as a Design and Consultant at the President’s Office.

This year’s presentation marks a significant gesture by the state, coming 37 years after the events of November 3, as an official acknowledgment of Maumoon’s enduring role in preserving national sovereignty during a defining chapter in the country’s history.