Born in Male’ in 1937 to a middle-class family, he quickly demonstrated a sound academic potential and, following early schooling in the capital, went first to Al-Azhar University in Cairo and later to the city’s American University; he obtained an M.A. in Islamic Studies at the former, where he also studied law and philosophy – academic disciplines in which he continued to have a keen interest. Indeed, President Gayoom, the politician and national leader, is every bit an intellectual. President Gayoom started his career in academia and his Degree in Islamic Studies earned him an academic appointment as a Lecturer in that discipline to Nigeria’s Abdullahi Bayero College, a faculty of Ahmadu Bello University, a post he held from 1969 to 1971.

However, he soon returned home to the Maldives and began his career of service to the Republic. His first important government appointment was that of Manager of the Republic’s Shipping Department. By 1974 he had established his reputation as an able administrator and was appointed Special Under-Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister. His first overseas appointment was to the diplomatic post of Deputy Ambassador to neighbouring Sri Lanka. This was followed by his appointment as the Maldives’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

At his recall to Male’ in 1977, President Gayoom was appointed Minister of Transport, and then in November 1978 was nominated as Presidential Candidate by the Citizens’ Majlis, winning a record 92.9% of the popular vote in the referendum which confirmed him as the undoubted choice of the people.