Author: Mohamed Reehaan

Let’s start with a simple observation. Think about the last few times the global economy was doing genuinely well, not just for Wall Street, but for everyday people in everyday countries. Trade was humming and emerging economies were posting impressive growth numbers. Countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America were building infrastructure, reducing poverty, and — here’s the part that rarely makes headlines — starting to pay off their debts to Western lenders and institutions. And then, almost like clockwork, something blew up somewhere. A war. A conflict. A regime in need of changing. A terrorist organization that suddenly had…

The Maldives is bracing for a significant economic blow as Finance Minister Moosa Zameer revealed that the ongoing Middle East conflict could drain between $85 million and $90 million from the country’s finances within a single month, a stark warning that has prompted the government to reassess its spending priorities and explore additional financing options. Minister Zameer made the disclosure at a media briefing held by the special ministerial committee formed by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu specifically to manage the economic and social fallout of the regional conflict on Maldivian citizens. Non-Negotiable Expenditures in a Tightening Budget Despite the anticipated…

Maldives Finance Minister Moosa Zameer has confirmed that the Maldives is expecting two incoming oil shipments, one from Singapore and another from Oman, as the government moves to safeguard the nation’s energy supply against the backdrop of escalating Middle East tensions. Speaking at a press briefing convened by the special ministerial committee established by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to monitor the regional conflict’s potential economic impact, Minister Zameer said a vessel loaded in Singapore is scheduled to dock in the Maldives at the start of April, carrying both diesel and petrol. A second shipment departing from Sohar, Oman, is expected…

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu made a personal visit to the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) construction site in Hulhumalé Phase II to review preparations for the newly launched “Affordable Housing” project. The site inspection came a day after the President attended the project’s official foundation stone-laying ceremony. The initiative forms a central part of the government’s broader housing agenda and will see 1,224 residential units built across Hulhumalé, with financing provided by the Bank of Maldives (BML). At the site, CMEC officials walked with President through the technical groundwork and mobilization efforts already underway ahead of construction beginning in earnest.…

MTCC has announced the closure of segments two through five of Boduthakurufaanu Magu along Male’ northern waterfront, as physical construction work on the road’s widening and redevelopment project moves into its next phase. What’s Closing and When The stretch between the Henveiru Ferry Terminal and Fishermen’s Park is already closed for sheet piling work. Starting tomorrow, closures will extend to the segment between the Henveiru Ferry Terminal and Izzudheen Jetty to allow fencing operations to begin. MTCC has given the public a 24-hour window to remove vehicles, advertisement boards, and other items from affected zones. All clearance must be completed…

The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) is hosting an additional round of walk-in interviews tomorrow as it works to complete driver recruitment for the government’s forthcoming public taxi service. Candidates are invited to attend at the Maafannu Bus Terminal between 10:00hrs and 16:00hrs. Filling a 407-Strong Driver Roster The recruitment push follows an earlier hiring session held in January, which drew more than 250 applicants. MTCC has identified a total of 407 driver positions required to bring the service to full operational capacity, comprising 285 full-time roles and 122 part-time positions. With final preparations currently underway, tomorrow’s session reflects…

The Maldives’ State Trading Organization (STO) received two scheduled oil shipments last week, the Minister of Economic Development and Trade confirmed, offering reassurance to businesses and consumers as global fuel markets brace for volatility stemming from escalating conflict in the Middle East. Minister Mohamed Saeed confirmed via social media that the deliveries arrived in line with pre-established “nomination” agreements between STO and its international suppliers, structured procurement arrangements that lock in shipment schedules based on national demand projections. “Further shipments are scheduled to arrive in the Maldives according to the nomination and dates agreed upon between STO and its suppliers,”…

The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) is preparing to launch physical works on the next stage of the Boduthakurufaanu Magu redevelopment project along nothern waterfront of Male’ City, with construction expected to get underway within the coming days. The works form part of Phase 1 of the broader redevelopment initiative, which covers the corridor running from the Local Market area through the Heveiru Ferry Terminal. The section between the Local Market and Izzudheen Jetty was already successfully upgraded and opened to the public on December 8 last year. Attention now turns to the four remaining segments from Izzudheen Jetty…

The Maldives government’s land reclamation project at Giraavarufalhu is on course for completion next month, with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu confirming that physical handover of plots to beneficiaries will commence in June. In a social media update issued today, the President said reclamation and surveying work is progressing rapidly and is expected to wrap up entirely in April, clearing the way for the distribution process to begin. “Based on current progress, we anticipate that all reclamation and surveying work will be finished in April, allowing us to begin the process of handing over the plots to their owners in June,”…

German leisure airline Condor is set to resume scheduled flights to the Maldives this coming summer, marking its return to the route after a year-long suspension. The airline will operate services between Frankfurt and Velana International Airport from May through October, running four flights weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Condor’s previous Maldives operations wrapped up at the close of the summer 2024 season. The resumption comes against a backdrop of sustained German demand for Maldivian tourism. Germany currently ranks as the fifth-largest source market for arrivals to the island nation, with 35,811 German tourists recorded so far this…