Author: Mohamed Reehaan

Maldives State Shipping (MSS) has announced it was preparing to launch shipping operations to Kulhudhuffushi and Addu cities. The state shipping corporation, a subsidiary under State Trading Organization (STO) is now seeking a vessel to launch operations for the new routes. MSS had previously operated a shipping vessel between Addu and Tuticorin, India, launched in October 2020. The operation came to a halt in March 2022 owing to lack of local industry support. During the operational period between Addu and Tuticorin, MSS operated a 4,000-ton capacity vessel whereas the combined total of imports by Addu City entrepreneurs did not exceed…

Tourist arrivals to the Maldives on a year-to-date basis has reached a total of 611,570 as of 16th April 2023, reported the Ministry of Tourism. According to the ministry’s recent statistics, tourist arrivals in annual terms has observed a 19.1% increment compared to the corresponding period in 2022 during which arrivals stood at 513,412. Tourist arrivals reached a total of 172,499 in January; a 30.9% increment compared to the same month last year, in February the arrivals stood at 177,915; a 19.4% increment from February 2022, and in March total arrivals reached 173,514; a 15.1% increment. Meanwhile, tourist arrivals from…

Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa has been received three nominations at the World Travel Awards 2023. The luxury tourist property nestled in the northern Haa Alifu atoll, and regarded as the “epitome of a luxury island sanctuary”, Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa announced that it was “proud to be in the running” for the titles of Maldives Leading Honeymoon Resort 2023, Maldives Leading Beach Resort 2023, and Maldives Leading Luxury Island Resort 2023 at the internationally acclaimed awarding event. The nominations come hot in the heels of the resort’s recent embarkment on a thrilling journey in introducing its “The Signature…

The Maldives government collected a total of MVR 91.9 million in Green Tax for the month of February 2023, reported the Ministry of Finance. Green Tax Collection Breakdown Resorts, guesthouses, and hotels: MVR 89.6 million Liveaboards/Safari Vessels: MVR2.2 million Homestays: MVR321.50 Top Green Tax Contributors – By Atolls Kaafu Atoll: MVR 35.2 million Raa Atoll: MVR 7.4 million Alifu Dhaalu Atoll: MVR 7.04 million Dhaalu Atoll: MVR 6.9 million Alifu Alifu Atoll: MVR 6.4 million Meanwhile, the state has spent MVR 65.9 million out of the Green Fund on various urbanization initiatives across the Maldives. The Green Fund is comprised…

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has appointed Ms Fathimath Salaha as the new Chief Internal Auditor on Thursday last week, 13th April 2023. The Maldives head of state made the appointment under Section 44-2(b) of the Public Finance Act (Act No: 3/2006) at the deputy minister level. Salaha became a member of the Chartered Certified Accountants of the Maldives in 2023 while she been a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) of the UK since 2014. Prior to her current appointment, she served as the Chief Audit Executive at the Ministry of Finance. She had also previously…

The Ministry of Higher Education announced that it has reopened bidding for interested contractors to develop a TIVET Center in Fuvahmulah City. The project part of the current administration’s efforts to establish tertiary academic and training facilities across the Maldives. The ministry confirmed that the TIVET Center project will follow a public-private partnership with the contractor required to fund the project. The center will provide courses in environmental technology, technical and industrial fields along with vocational trainings. The TIVET Center will be developed on a 30,000-square-foot plot leased for 50 years. Besides establishing the center, the ministry said that the…

Urbanco has announced that tenants living in the Hiyaa Flat social housing towers will be required to forfeit tenancy of the flats should they breach the safety regulations. The corporation, responsible managing all urbanization efforts in Hulhumale’, released a press statement following a fire incident in one of the Hiyaa towers two nights before. It was discovered that the fire was caused due to a discarded cigarette filter that was not extinguished. This was the second fire incident that occurred in the same month with another fire earlier caused because of the same reason. Urbanco said in their statement that…

Ooredoo Maldives’ e-commerce platform Moolee has begun offering Huawei’s Watch Buds. The Huawei Watch Buds couples smartwatch technology and earbuds, integrates their charging through the same device. The pop-up cover of the Huawei Watch opens with a gentle nudge, and a first-ever attachable magnetic design fuses earbuds. The watch comes with a 3D curved glass exterior, which is “seamlessly imbedded” into the 1300 degrees Celsius refined steel body with 710 Clous de Paris ornaments on the button and watch crown. As part introducing the new product in Moolee’s catalog, it has made a limited duration offer of MVR 6,999 for…

The flagship carrier of the Maldives; Maldivian has invited interested parties to submit proposals to rent five ATR aircraft. The news follows Maldivian’s recent ATR inclusion into its fleet as part the airline’s major overhaul efforts. The overhaul efforts will see Maldivian replacing its ageing Dash-8 planes with the more modern ATR alternatives. Maldivian, in an announcement made on Sunday, 16th April 2023, stated it was looking to rent five ATR 42-600s. The planes are being sought for a duration between 6 and 12 years. Out of the five, three will be brought in under an operating lease arrangement. Maldivian…

The Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (MNPHI) said that the contractor of Thilamale’ Bridge has begun installing bridge decks. According to the ministry, Afcons Infrastructure, the Indian-based contractor for the largest infrastructure project in the Maldives till date, has begun installing the decks on the pillars situated in the lagoon just outside of Male’ City’s western end. The contractor has already completed a majority portion of installing the bridge pillars in the location. The bridge’s superstructure works are carried at the main project site located in Gulhifalhu; which is one of the islands that will be connected to…