The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade has issued a public announcement urging individuals to report information regarding foreigners conducting business illegally in the Maldives. The Ministry stated that it continues to receive a high volume of complaints involving foreigners operating without the necessary licences or engaging in activities restricted to Maldivians under existing laws.
According to the announcement, the most common violations include foreigners using Maldivians as fronts to obtain permits, while maintaining primary control over the business, as well as foreign nationals operating in sectors prohibited to them under the Foreign Investment Act 11/2024 without the required approvals.
The Ministry said several measures have been introduced to address the issue, including the passage of the Foreign Investment Act 11/2024 in August last year and a follow-up announcement issued on 8 October 2025, clarifying which sectors are open to foreign investors and which remain closed. A detailed list of prohibited sectors has been annexed with the announcement, ranging from retail and food services to logistics, courier services, legal services, market research, photography, advertising, and various forms of passenger transport.
To support enforcement efforts, the Ministry has opened multiple channels for the public to report suspected illegal business operations. Reports can be submitted through the Ministry’s website, by calling the hotline between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM on working days, or through Immigration Watch via the Maldives Immigration website. Anonymous submissions are allowed through the online reporting portals.
All information received will be forwarded to the National Taskforce on Combating Illegal Expatriate Operations and Businesses, which consists of the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Maldives Immigration, Maldives Police Service, and other relevant authorities. The Ministry has assured that swift action will be taken following review by the taskforce, and stressed that both expatriates and any Maldivians involved in illegal operations will face consequences.
The list of sectors where foreigners are prohibited from conducting business includes retail and wholesale trade, food service activities, construction works below prescribed thresholds, travel agencies, logistics and cargo handling services, postal and courier services, employment agencies, tobacco production, manufacturing of plastics, sand mining, security services, public passenger transport, photography and videography, advertising, market research, and several others.
