Why Taxing Foreign Booking Platforms Is Long Overdue
Maldives passes law taxing foreign booking platforms' margins, closing a longstanding tourism GST gap.
Section
Report
Tourism’s Two-Market Test: How Much Dependence Is Too Much?
Maldives tourism grows reliant on China and Russia, raising concerns over concentration amid weaker overall…
How Rising Dollar Pressure Changed the Government’s Public Message
Maldives' dollar shortage escalated into a political crisis, prompting a no-confidence motion against Minister Saeed.
The Second Bill: How Preventable Failures Multiply Public Costs
A reopened Malé road is being rebuilt, raising undisclosed costs and unanswered contractor liability questions.
The Healthy Diet Premium: Why Nutrition Costs More in the Maldives
Rising nutrition costs in the Maldives threaten dietary quality despite improved affordability and calorie access.
Maldives Wins the First Visit. The Commercial Opportunity Is the Second
The Maldives excels at attracting first-time visitors but struggles to convert satisfaction into repeat bookings.
One Market, One Gatekeeper: Medianet’s Hold on Maldivian Television
Medianet dominates Maldivian television through infrastructure, content and sports rights rather than any legal monopoly.
The Next Test for Maldives Tourism Is Value, Not Just Volume
Maldives tourism must shift from arrival volume toward sustainable value, resilience, and stronger local benefit.
The Dollar Divide: How Rufiyaa Earners Pay More in a Dollar Economy
Maldives' dollar-dependent economy leaves rufiyaa earners paying more amid scarce foreign currency and rising costs.
Rising Food Prices Expose Fragility in Maldivian Household Welfare
Rising prices are exposing a deeper vulnerability in the Maldivian economy, with households outside Malé…
The El Niño Exposure: What Warmer Seas Mean for the Maldives
The Maldives’ exposure to El Niño extends far beyond changes in the weather. Warmer seas…
Fitch Upgrade to ‘CCC-’: What It Means for the Maldivian Business Community
Fitch Ratings has upgraded the Maldives’ Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘CCC-’ from…
Cost-Cutting in SOEs Intensifies Scrutiny of Employment Patterns and Workforce Sustainability
In April, the Privatisation and Corporatisation Board (PCB) introduced a series of cost-cutting measures across…
Is Decentralisation in the Maldives Being Quietly Rolled Back?
The dissolution of atoll councils and the government’s decision to establish Local Government Authority offices…
A Digital State Without a Privacy Culture?
The Maldives is moving towards a more digitised state at the same time that recent…
Why Care Work Should Be Treated as Economic Infrastructure
The gender gap in Malé’s labour market is often treated as a social issue, but…
Press Freedom in Maldives Faces Fresh Scrutiny
The police raid on Adhadhu’s newsroom has brought the Maldives’ press freedom debate into a…
A Revolving Door at the Top: Can SOEs Deliver Like This?
Leadership at some of the Maldives’ most important state-owned enterprises has become increasingly transient, with…
When the State Becomes the Competitor
The government’s decision to extend the free “Malé Taxi” service beyond its initial trial period…
A Serious Crisis, An Unserious Response
Rising fuel prices, disrupted shipping routes, and tightening aviation networks are no longer distant risks.…
Maldives Referendum Puts Election Timing and Power Dynamics to the Test
Ballots scheduled for 4 April will ask Maldivians to decide on a change that, at…
Energy Dependence and Economic Risk: Lessons from the Middle East Conflict
MVR 10 billion. That is how much the Maldives spent on fuel imports in 2025, according…
Expat Worker Housing Exposes Longstanding Safety Failures
A fire that broke out in an expatriate worker accommodation block in ADh. Dhigurah last…
The Contradictions in Maldives Public Health Policy
The Maldives has spent the past two years presenting itself as unusually serious about public…