Author: Mohamed Reehaan

The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) has confirmed its Eid Banking Hours for the upcoming Eid al-Adha 1447 holiday period. The authority will open for a single working day midway through what is otherwise a closed week for government offices. The official holiday calendar runs from May 24 to May 30, 2026. Within that window, the MMA will operate on Thursday, May 28, to deliver essential banking services to its institutional clients. The counter will run from 08:30hrs to 14:00hrs, giving banks and other authorized entities a shortened but workable window to handle pressing transactions before the holiday resumes. The authority…

The FSM Fuel Station Meedhoo is now open and serving the public, marking another step in the government’s push to bring fuel access at standard rates within reach of every atoll. Fuel Supplies Maldives (FSM) confirmed the launch in an announcement today, adding the Dhaal Atoll site to a growing network of regional outlets the company has rolled out under the national distribution programme. A strategic piece of a national rollout The new station forms part of a broader policy direction aimed at standardizing fuel pricing across the country. The strategy is straightforward: ensure that motorists, fishing operators, and businesses…

STO Approves MVr 85 per share in dividends for the 2025 financial year, lifting its payout above last year’s level and rewarding shareholders for a year in which the company crossed MVR 15 billion in revenue. The resolution passed by majority vote at the Annual General Meeting held on Saturday evening, at Dusit D2 Feydhoo Maldives, with 263 shareholders and proxies in the room and a clear message that the company’s run of sustained profit has reached its shareholders’ pockets. A well-attended meeting with a clear mandate The AGM drew strong participation from across the shareholder base. A total of…

The Maldives entered 2026 wearing the crown of consecutive record months. By mid-may, the crown sits askew. Maldives Tourist Arrivals 2026 reaches 839,620 tourists through 13 May, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, a figure that would read as a healthy industrial performance in any other geopolitical climate. Against the 897,444 logged through the same window in 2025, however, it tells a more complicated story: one of momentum interrupted, of carefully laid plans colliding with forces no marketing budget can fully offset. The headline narrative breaks cleanly into two acts: January and February were record-setting, with February’s 247,722…

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…