The Maldives - General Overview
"Assalaam Alaikum" - The time-honored Maldivian greeting, be it to a visitor or friend; it de notes the Islamic culture of the people and comes with a fervent wish for peace. For cen tu ries our shores have been a haven of peace and tranquility for travelers.
Hospitality has been an inherent part of Maldivian culture and a part of island life. It has always been a land where visitors are welcomed with open arms, where people are ready to share.
Today we share our immense wealth of natural beauty and cultural di versity with the rest of the world.
Maldives - The sunny side of life!
Specks of emerald green en vel oped by dazzling tur quoise waters like scattered beads in the ocean; white powdery beaches, tall palms lean on to wards the sea, crys talline white sands giving way to crys tal clear waters, shades of tur quoise blend flawlessly with deeper hues of blue; pristine coral reefs and some of the most incredible underwater life on our planet.
Rising from the deep blue of the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean are more than a thousand islands and thousands more reefs that form the Maldives.
Maldives at a glance
| Time | + 5 hrs GMT |
| Capital | Male’ |
| No. of Islands | 1,190 |
| Inhabited Islands | 200 |
| Resorts | 91 |
| Population (2006) | 298,968 |
| Major Industries | Tourism & Fisheries |
| Currency | Rufiyaa |
| Electricity | 240 AC |
| Working Hours: | Government: 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. |
| Sun to Thu | |
| Private Sector: 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. | |
| (Varies) Sat to Thu | |
| Banks: 8.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. | |
| Sun to Thu |
Location
The Maldives consists of 1190 is lands grouped into 26 natural atolls scattered over an area of 90,000 sq. km straddling the equator be tween latitudes 7°6” north and 0°42” south and longitudes 72°32” and 73°46” east.
Geography
The atolls of the Maldives are formed from coral structures. The atolls are part of a greater structure known as the Laccadives-Chagos Ridge, which stretches over 2000 kilometers.
The islands are low lying with the highest point at approximately eight feet above sea level. Ring-shaped reef struc tures form the atolls and these reefs provide the natural defense against wind and wave action on these delicate islands.
Weather and Climate
The Maldives has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round and a great deal of sunshine. The warm tropical climate results in relatively minor variations in daily temperature throughout the year.
The weather is determined largely by the monsoons; the Southwest monsoon from May to November and the Northeast monsoon from December to April. The hottest month on average is April and the coolest, December.
February is the driest with December to April being relatively dry. The Maldives is in the equatorial belt and therefore severe storms are rare.
Travel to Maldives
Although geographically isolated the Maldives is easily accessible by air from anywhere in Southeast Asia, Middle East and Europe. Co lombo is an hour’s journey away by air, from Singapore and Dubai it takes about four hours and from Europe it takes nine to eleven hours to reach Male’.
Malé International Airport
Male’ International Airport is on an island that only houses the airport and related facilities. The airport located on Hulhule Is land is a modern well-equipped airport with all the facilities and services one would expect from an international airport. The air port complex houses terminals for arrivals and de par tures, landside shops and airside duty free shops, restaurants, medical facilities, bank, post office and other services. The is land also houses the airport hotel.
What to pack
The Maldives is warm throughout the year. Light, cotton and linen wear is ideal. Pack lots of tee shirts, beachwear, and wraparound skirts, cotton shirts and shorts. For visits to inhabited islands, where most of the streets are of compact sand, or Malé where the streets are paved, sandals are easy to walk on. Some essential items include swimwear, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat or a cap. If your travel plan includes traveling to many islands, a mosquito repellent may become handy.
Immigration/Visa
Tourists are issued a maximum of 30-day tourist visa on arrival. A valid travel document is necessary. Visa extensions are granted by the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Malé.
Customs
The import of firearms, drugs, pornography and idols of worship are prohibited. Dogs, pigs, and pork products are also prohibited for import by tourists. Alcohol imported under a special license is available in all the resorts. Similarly pork products are available at most of the resorts as well. Prohibited products such as alcohol brought in by passengers are bonded and released at departure.
