Author: Mohamed Reehaan

Here’s the short version: 2025 was a really, really good year for the Maldivian economy. Surprised? Don’t be. The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) earlier released its 2025 Annual Report, and the headline number jumps off the page. Real GDP grew by 6.3% in 2025. That is almost double the 3.5% growth recorded in 2024. But the report does not stop at celebrating last year. It also looks at the storm clouds gathering over 2026. So let us talk about the whole story together since the MMA Annual Report 2025 covers a lot of ground. We will break it down piece…

Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) deepened its Maldives-PATA Board Engagement this week in Geyongju, Republic of Korea. The CEO and Managing Director of VMC, Ibrahim Shiuree represented the country at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Annual General Meeting on May 12, 2026. The VMC chief attended in his capacity as PATA Board Member, a seat he has held since August 2025. Board Seat Puts the Maldives at the PATA Table Shiuree’s PATA board role hands the Maldives direct influence over regional tourism policy; contribute to tourism industry reshape efforts. The PATA meeting reviewed its annual activities, and set out strategic…

The UK Government has cautioned its citizens about widespread travel disruptions, and its impact on connecting to Maldives routes. According to the UK Government, on its official website, the escalation in the Middle East “has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures”. The statement, dated May 12, read that the continued flight delays and cancellations in light of the Middle East conflict could impact connections to and from the Maldives. The change log, from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) specifies the update as an “Addition of information about diving safaris (‘Safety and securite’ page)”. The Middle East…

Hiyaavahi Finance Scheme loans now sit at the heart of the government’s housing playbook, and the numbers are no longer abstract. MVR 1 billion. Roughly 850 citizens in the first wave. A pipeline aimed squarely at Maldivians who already own land but lack the cash to build on it. Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, Minister of Construction, Housing and Urban Development, laid it all out at a press conference held yesterday at the President’s Office. Bank Financing Meets Government Subsidy The mechanics are simple enough on paper. Banks put up the money. The government cushions the cost through subsidies. The applicant walks…

The Velana Airport growth strategy now sits at the centre of MACL’s ambitions, and the company’s chief made that point with conviction this week. Speaking at the Aviation Forum 2026 – Connecting Maldives, hosted at Hotel Jen, Managing Director and CEO Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed mapped out what the years ahead will look like for Velana International Airport (VIA). Bigger ambitions. Sharper execution. A clear bet on technology, partnerships, and new income streams. Digital Transformation Reshapes the VIA Passenger Experience Shareef opened with the changes travellers will notice first. Self-service check-in kiosks. Self-baggage drop counters. Immigration e-gates. Biometric facilitation. Each piece…

Three airlines, including one from the Middle East, are gearing up for their Maldives route operations according to Mohamed Firaq, owner of Inner Maldives and local aviation expert. FIraq’s statement comes amid ongoing Middle East war that the US and Israel launched on Iran, which has now turned over two months long. Maldives tourist arrivals showed visible dent in light of the conflict, as month-on-month slipped in 2026 in comparison to the same period last year. Numbers from the Ministry of Tourism provides proof of this reality, as it posted a monthly tourist arrival total capping at 216,309 in March…

Club Double Eight have been crowned champions of the STO Boduriya Championship 2026, storming through all seven rounds without losing a single match: a near-flawless run that capped off one of the most exciting team chess events the Maldives has seen in recent years. The 10-board rapid chess showdown, jointly hosted by Castle Chess Club and the Maldives Chess Association, drew 84 players from seven clubs across the country. What made the turnout especially memorable was the mix of generations on display: competitors as young as nine sat across the board from veterans well into their sixties, all chasing the…

The Maldives Meteorological Service (MET Office) has forecasted that the current adverse weather conditions will persist across Maldives for the next two days. The warning comes as the Maldives fully transitions from the northeast monsoon (‘Iruvai’) to the southwest monsoon (‘Hulhangu’). According to MET, widespread rain is anticipated across the country during the period. The authority also alerted to heavy downpours in several regions. What to Expect For the upcoming 24 hours, the national weather agency’s outlook does not appear traveler-friendly for sea-bound vessels. MET expects scattered rain showers in milder circumstances and thunderstorms in more serious conditions. Some islands…

The Operation Kurangi biometric drive has logged fingerprints and updated photographs of 98% of the country’s legally documented migrant workers, a number the government is calling its biggest single dent in the undocumented immigrant problem in years. The Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology runs the operation. It launched on May 2, 2024. Two years later, the figure has lifted from 13% to where it stands today. For decades, the Maldives has lived with the same two-pronged problem. Tourists overstay their visas. Workers slip away from their sponsors and reappear on different islands, working for cash. Past administration talked…

Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Golam Sarwar, arrived in the Maldives today to take part in the Asia Media Summit 2026. His arrival marks one of the senior regional appearances confirmed for the gathering. Moreover, the summit’s delegate roster continues to fill out as participating countries send their representatives ahead of the official May 11 start. Top-Level Arrivals at Velana Public Service Media (PSM) Managing Director Ahmed Shakeeb and PSM Chairperson Aminath Namza welcomed the SAARC Secretary-General at Velana International Airport. The State Secretary for Social Communications for Timor-Leste, Expedito Loro Dias Ximenes, also touched…