Dr Mariyam Zulfa is a graduate of laws from the University of Western Australia. Until her appointment on the 7^th of November 2010 as Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture she has worked as Managing Partner in the law firm of Duckham & Co, Lawyers, Male’, Maldives. In 2009 she has worked as a tourism law lecturer in Australia. Her PhD, from Curtin Business School, Curtin University Australia examines the competitiveness of small island tourism destinations.

Her other educational qualifications include Bachelor of Arts in Urban & Regional Planning and Masters of Business Administration (MBA). Her MBA thesis on the topic of tourism marketing communications was awarded a distinction by Waikato University.

Dr Zulfa has worked in the government previously as a Director of Selected Islands Development and later as the Director of Non-Formal Education Centre prior to leaving the country for higher education in New Zealand and Australia.

She is married with one daughter Lisa and one son Gibran.