VIA Handles 4.1 Million Passengers in First Half of 2025
Velana International Airport (VIA) handled more than 4.1 million passengers in the first six months of 2025, marking a four percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to figures released by the airport.
Between January and June, VIA served 2,669,969 international passengers, 579,079 domestic passengers and 859,797 seaplane passengers. The busiest...
British High Commission Supports MACL with First Aid Training Gear
The British High Commission in Malé has donated First Aid Training equipment to Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) as part of efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness at the country’s main gateway.
The contribution is part of the UK Government’s Protective Security & Attack Response Program (PSARP), which is being implemented across the Maldives to...
Talks Underway to Revive Idle Fish Processing Plant in Hulhumalé
Negotiations are in progress to bring the Ensis cannery and processing plant in Hulhumalé back into operation after being idle for around eighteen months. The move is aimed at restoring a major industrial asset and boosting the Maldives’ fish processing capacity.
The plant’s current owner, Ensis Fisheries Pvt. Ltd., is in discussions with the...
MMA Survey Shows Retail Sector Facing Higher Costs and Potential Price Rises
The Maldives’ wholesale and retail trade sector had a mixed performance between April and June 2025, according to the Maldives Monetary Authority’s (MMA) latest Quarterly Business Survey. While some indicators point to resilience, others reveal signs of slowdown.
The total volume of sales index fell by 105 points to -46 in the second quarter....
MIRA Targets Greater Efficiency Through Technology and Automation
The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) is working to further digitise its services and automate internal processes as part of its Strategic Action Plan, according to details shared by the authority’s Director General of Administration and Finance, Ahmed Shafneez, in an interview with state media.
The initiative aims to make tax-related procedures more efficient...
Gov’t Links Foreign Investment Growth to Business Forums and Legal Reforms
The Maldives has recorded 108 new foreign investments since December 2023, according to figures shared by the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, in an interview with state media. The ministry attributes the rise to a series of initiatives launched since the current administration took office in November 2023.
The figure is...
Work-Life Balance Tops Global Priorities. Where Does the Maldives Stand?
The Randstad Workmonitor 2025 report points to a clear shift in workplace values across the globe: employees are increasingly unwilling to trade personal well-being for career advancement. The study found that many workers would turn down promotions or higher salaries if these came at the expense of personal time, mental health, or flexibility.
Hybrid...
Maldives Records 12% Rise in Exports, 2% Drop in Imports in First Half of 2025
The Maldives recorded notable shifts in external trade during the first half of 2025, with total exports rising by 12 percent and imports falling by 2 percent compared with the same period last year, according to the latest Economic Update by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA).
In June 2025 alone, exports measured on a...
July ECPI Data Shows Price Rises for Coffee, Fruits, and Vegetables
The cost of essential goods in Malé rose by 2.7% in July 2025 compared to the same month last year, according to the Maldives Bureau of Statistics.
The Essential Commodities Price Index (ECPI) tracks how the prices of everyday items such as food, drinks, personal care products, and fuel change over time. The index...
Construction Sector Shows Strong Rebound in Q2 2025, but Financial Concerns Persist
The construction industry staged a strong recovery in the second quarter of 2025, ending a year-long period of contraction, according to the Maldives Monetary Authority’s Quarterly Business Survey.
The survey’s “volume of construction activity” index rose by 92 points to 46, meaning a far greater share of businesses reported increased activity compared with those...
Ooredoo Maldives Launches Special Boduberu Class with Habeys Boduberu
Ooredoo Maldives is offering music enthusiasts the chance to learn the rhythms of Maldivian heritage through a four-week Boduberu class led by acclaimed band Habeys Boduberu. The initiative, part of the company’s 20th anniversary celebrations, will run on Saturdays from 16 August to 6 September at Ooredoo Maldives Headquarters in Malé.
The programme, limited...
Decentralisation Under Threat: Why Local Governance Still Matters in the Maldives
Under heavy criticism, the ruling People’s National Congress pushed through amendments to the Decentralisation Act on Wednesday, passing the bill with 51 votes in favour and just seven against. Despite objections from over 100 councils and all opposition MPs present, the government moved quickly, prompting backlash over what many see as a deliberate effort to sideline local...
Liquidity Spike and Dollar Outflows Prompt Central Bank Intervention
The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) has announced a series of monetary tightening measures aimed at reducing excess liquidity in the domestic economy, as the rufiyaa continues to face pressure against the US dollar and foreign reserves remain under strain.
According to a statement issued by the central bank, over MVR 7 billion in surplus...
Surplus Story Cracks Under Pressure of Stalled Capital Spending
The Maldives has recorded a budget surplus of MVR 314.3 million as of 31 July 2025, continuing a fiscal pattern seen throughout the year. While a surplus may suggest sound financial management at first glance, the underlying reason tells a different story: the government has been consistently underspending on capital projects, rather than significantly improving revenue performance.
Maldives Issues Over MVR 1.86 Billion in Treasury Bills in Latest Sale
The Government of Maldives has invited subscriptions for a fresh issuance of treasury bills totalling MVR 1.86 billion, as part of its regular domestic borrowing strategy to manage short- to medium-term liquidity needs. The invitation, released by the Ministry of Finance and Planning under T-Bill Series TB-2025-015, outlines four tranches with maturities ranging from 28 to 364...
CMDA and UNDP Launch Risk-Sharing Financing Facility for Blue Economy MSMEs in Maldives
The Capital Market Development Authority (CMDA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the UK Government, have jointly unveiled a Joint Financing Facility (JFF) aimed at unlocking capital for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operating within the Maldives’ blue economy sectors.
The facility is designed as a blended finance instrument...
Cold Storage Facility Underway as Part of Broader Food Security Strategy
The State Trading Organisation (STO) is developing a cold storage facility in Malé’s Industrial Village as part of broader government efforts to strengthen food security in the Maldives. The initiative was highlighted by the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, during a recent appearance on state media.
The facility is being constructed...
Maldivian Youth Demand Climate Action Ahead of COP30
Thirty-seven young people from across the Maldives gathered in Malé to call for urgent action on climate change at the recent 'Youth Track to COP30' event. Organised by UNICEF Maldives in collaboration with the President’s Office and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, the event provided a platform for youth to voice their concerns and ideas ahead...
Tourism Sector Contracts Sharply in Q2, But Signs Point to Gradual Recovery Ahead
The Maldives’ tourism sector experienced a significant slowdown in the second quarter of 2025, with business activity contracting across almost all key indicators, according to the Maldives Monetary Authority’s (MMA) latest Quarterly Business Survey.
Conducted between 25 June and 14 July, the survey showed that the traditional off-peak season hit harder than usual, as...
New Rules for Tourism Ads in the Maldives: What You Need to Know
The Ministry of Tourism and Environment has introduced a new regulation that affects how tourist establishments can advertise in the Maldives. Gazetted on 4 August 2025, the Regulation on the Advertising of Establishments that Provide Services to Tourists is now in effect and applies to a wide range of operators in the tourism industry.
Here’s what...
Ooredoo Maldives Receives Bronze Stevie for Employer of the Year
Ooredoo Maldives has been awarded the Bronze Stevie® Award for Employer of the Year – Telecommunications at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, a recognition of the company’s efforts to cultivate an inclusive, engaging, and people-first workplace.
The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are regarded as one of the region’s most prestigious business awards programmes, honouring innovation...
Aséria’s Garden Dwellings: Where Customisable Meets Duplex Living
Within the larger vision of Aséria, a residential development on the northeastern edge of Hulhumalé Phase 2, the Garden Dwellings introduce a new approach to flexible, multi-unit living. As one of three distinct home types in the community, these duplex-style residences combine privacy, adaptability, and shared green space in a way that responds to how people live,...
GAGE Turns 15: From Protective Services to National Recognition
GAGE Maldives has celebrated its 15th anniversary with a commemorative ceremony held at Barcelo Nasandhura Malé, highlighting its transformation from a boutique protective services provider into one of the most diversified safety and security firms in the country.
Founded on 21 July 2010 by former Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz, GAGE began with a singular...
CTI Maldives Launches Corporate Readiness Programme for Maldivian Youth
The Corporate Training Institute Maldives (CTI Maldives) has opened enrolment for its newly launched ‘Corporate Readiness Program’, aimed at preparing Maldivian youth for real-world challenges in the modern workplace. The three-month programme is tailored for teenagers aged 16 to 20 and is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional expectations.
Over...
LATEST ARTICLES
VIA Handles 4.1 Million Passengers in First Half of 2025
Velana International Airport (VIA) handled more than 4.1 million passengers in the first six months of 2025, marking a four percent increase...
British High Commission Supports MACL with First Aid Training Gear
The British High Commission in Malé has donated First Aid Training equipment to Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) as part of efforts...
Talks Underway to Revive Idle Fish Processing Plant in Hulhumalé
Negotiations are in progress to bring the Ensis cannery and processing plant in Hulhumalé back into operation after being idle for around...
MMA Survey Shows Retail Sector Facing Higher Costs and Potential Price Rises
The Maldives’ wholesale and retail trade sector had a mixed performance between April and June 2025, according to the Maldives Monetary Authority’s...
MIRA Targets Greater Efficiency Through Technology and Automation
The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) is working to further digitise its services and automate internal processes as part of its Strategic...
