Maldives Country & Tourist Information

Location
A group of islands in the Indian Ocean, 500km (300 miles) southwest of the southern tip of India.

Area
298 sq km (115 sq miles).

Population
370,000 (CIA estimate 2007).

Population Density
1,242 per sq km.

Capital
Malé.
Population:  83,000 (UN estimate 2003).

Government
Republic since 1965. Gained independence from the UK in 1965.

Language
The national language is Dhivehi. English is widely used as a business language in government offices and the commercial sector. Other languages are widely used within tourist areas.

Religion
The indigenous population is almost entirely Sunni Muslim.

Time
GMT + 5.

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Round-pin plugs are used, although square-pin plugs are now becoming more common.

Head of State
President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom since 1978.

Recent History
President Gayoom is Asia’s longest-serving leader, re-elected for a record sixth five-year term in 2003, having first taken office in 1978. The Maldives has been relatively stable under his rule, despite attempted coups in the 1980s. Human rights groups accused Gayoom of running an autocratic state and anti-government violence flared in the streets. 

The Maldives was hit by the December 2004 Asian tsunami. Homes and resorts were destroyed, and a major rebuilding program was consequently put into place.

The country aims to hold its first multiparty elections by the end of 2008.

Telephone
Country code: 960.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is excellent throughout the islands. Handsets can be hired by the day.

Internet
The Internet can be accessed from most areas of the Maldives. Malé, the capital, has several Internet cafes and almost all resorts have Internet connections.

Media
Criticism of the state is limited, and the government occasionally closes media outlets for this reason. Self-regulation by the media has meant that there has been only isolated official action against journalists.

Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes about one week.

Post office hours: Sat-Thurs 0730-1330 and 1600-1750.

Press
• Local dailies which publish in the Dhivehi language have some English-language pages and concentrate on local and regional topics.
• The Maldives News Bulletin is published weekly in English.
• The other dailies Aafathis Daily News, Haveeru Daily and Miadhu News have English sections.
• Information about local events is widely available on all the resort islands.

Radio
• The government controls the state radio station Voice of Maldives.
• Radio Eke is also state owned.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
26 Feb National Day.
9 Mar Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
29 Mar The Day Maldives Embraced Islam.
26-27 Jul Independence Day.
22 Aug Ramadan begins.
21 Sep Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends).
3 Nov Victory Day.
26 Nov Hajj Day.
11 Nov Republic Day.
28 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
18 Dec Islamic New Year.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
26 Feb Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
Feb/Mar* National Day.
Mar/Apr* The Day Maldives Embraced Islam.
26-27 Jul Independence Day.
11 Aug Ramadan begins.
10 Sep Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends).
3 Nov Victory Day.
11 Nov Republic Day.
17 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Nov/Dec* Hajj Day.
7 Dec Islamic New Year.

* Date to be confirmed.

Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on drinking in public places. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself, although this is generally unlikely to affect life on the resort islands. Eid al-Fitr and Eid el-Kebir may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information:

Maldives Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB)
3rd Floor, H. Aage 12, Boduthakurufaanu Magu, Malé, Republic of Maldives
Tel: 323 228.
Website: www.visitmaldives.com.

High Commission of the Republic of Maldives in the UK
22 Nottingham Place, London W1U 5NJ, UK
Tel: (020) 7224 2135.
Website: www.maldiveshighcommission.org
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1700.

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations in the USA
800 Second Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 599 6194/5.
Website: www.un.int/maldives


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