Government revenue for September 2025 reached MVR 3.01 billion, marking a 30.7 percent increase compared to the same month last year, according to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA). The rise was largely driven by higher collections from General Sector GST, Tourism Land Rent, Airport Taxes and Fees, and a one-off payment from Lease Period Extension Fees.
The report shows that USD-denominated revenue climbed by 33.7 percent year-on-year to USD 150.25 million, reflecting strong inflows from tourism-related sectors. This growth was supported by a 9 percent increase in tourist arrivals in August 2025 compared to August 2024, as well as higher Green Tax rates effective since January 2025 and revised airport fees introduced in December 2024.
GST continued to be the largest contributor, accounting for 40.5 percent of total revenue. Lease Period Extension Fees made up 16.9 percent, followed by Tourism Land Rent at 13.4 percent, Airport Development Fees at 6.8 percent, Departure Tax at 6.6 percent, and Green Tax at 6.5 percent.
While the strong performance in September was partly due to temporary factors such as the one-off lease extension payments, MIRA’s data also points to improving tax compliance and recovery of overdue payments. The authority reported that 14.9 percent of the month’s revenue came from recovered arrears, with a further 6.4 percent collected through targeted efforts to settle outstanding dues.
Cumulatively, these factors helped September’s collections exceed projections, contributing to the government’s fiscal stability despite ongoing expenditure pressures. However, with one-off sources like lease extension fees not recurring regularly, sustaining revenue growth in the coming months will likely depend on continued strength in tourism and domestic consumption.
