Maldives Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

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

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.

Area

298 sq km (115 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT + 5.

Electricity

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

Population

396,300 (2009).

Population Density

1,329 per sq km.

Capital City

Malé. Population: 104,403 (2008).

Government

Republic since 1965. Gained independence from the UK in 1965. Democracy established in 2008.

Head of State

President Mohamed Nasheed (since 2008).

Religion

The indigenous population is entirely Sunni Muslim, and the group practice of other religions is illegal.

Recent History

After decades of being in power virtually unchallenged, President Maumoon Gayoom, Asia's longest-serving leader, finally made concessions to allow for free and democratic elections in 2008. When no candidate gained a 50% share of the votes, a run-off was held, which was narrowly won by Mohamed Nasheed, long time political dissident and opposition leader.

Gayoom stepped down and Nasheed was sworn in as president in November 2008. Despite having been imprisoned on multiple occasions by Gayoom's police, Nasheed signalled that his government would not prosecute any member of the previous administration and the new government has since focused on much needed reforms such as improving education, health care, social security and environmental protection. In March 2009 the government announced plans to make Maldives the world's first carbon-neutral country.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +960. The easiest way to call home is via a computer or a mobile phone. To avoid roaming charges, people at home can call your room in your resort.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is decent throughout the islands, though as the country is so spead out, there are still some blindspots. It's possible to buy a local SIM card in Malé to make cheap local calls.

Internet

The Internet can be accessed from most areas of the Maldives. Malé, the capital, has a lack of Internet cafés, but Wi-Fi is available in many other cafés. Almost all resorts have Internet connections via terminals for guest use or wireless, though these are rarely free.

Media

Since the democratic change in the Maldives in 2008, the press has become a far freer society with a more developed civil society and media. Open debate and discussion of the governments performance is now the norm after decades of compliant and uncritical media coverage. Most media is in Divehi only, though there are several online English-language newspapers. European and American newspapers are sometimes available in international editions.

Post

Airmail to Western Europe takes about one week.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.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
7 Dec Islamic New Year

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb National Day
15 Feb Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet)
29 Mar The Day Maldives Embraced Islam
26 Jul Independence Day
1 Aug Ramadan begins
31 Aug Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends)
3 Nov Victory Day
4 Nov - 7 Nov Hajj Day
6 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
11 Nov Republic Day
26 Nov Islamic New Year

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
24 Jan National Day
4 Feb Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet)
28 Mar The Day Maldives Embraced Islam *
20 Jul Ramadan begins
26 Jul Independence Day
19 Aug Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends)
23 Oct - 26 Oct Hajj Day
25 Oct Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
3 Nov Victory Day
11 Nov Republic Day
15 Nov Islamic New Year
* Date to be confirmed 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 3228.
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 (closed 1230-1330).

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.maldivesembassy.us