Maldives - Quick Facts
Location
Southwest of Sri Lanka, on the equator.
Geography
1,190 coral islands, forming an archipelago of 26 major atolls. Stretches 820 kilometres north to south and 120 kilometres east to west. 202 are inhabited, 87 are exclusive resort islands.
Climate
Generally warm and humid. Sun shines all year through. Average temperature around 29 - 32 degrees Celsius.
What to Wear
Given the limited variation in temperature, only lightweight clothing should be brought to the Maldives. We also recommend that you dress modestly and refrain from wearing bikini’s and bathing suits while in the capital and other inhabited islands as the Maldives is a 100% Islamic nation.
Maldives Population Growth
The population of the Maldives enumerated in the 2006 census was 298,968. Of this total, 147,509 were females and 151,459 were males. Between 2000 and 2006 the population increased by 28,867, a 10 percent increase from the 2000 census population of 270,101. The Maldives population surpassed 300,000 in July 2006, reaching a momentous milestone in population growth.
Although the size of the population increased each time census is taken, the annual population growth rate declined significantly from 3.43 percent in 1985–1990 to 1.69 percent in 2000-2006
Personal Health
Sensible precautions should be taken to avoid sunburn and dehydration. On arrival and when travelling in the Maldives, stick to bottled mineral water.
Though infectious diseases are under control, dengue fever is common, especially on the islands. Most medicines are available in Maldives, there are two hospitals on the main island, Male’. The hospitals can treat non-trauma injuries, but any severe injuries requiring specialist attention would need to be referred abroad. There are also dental facilities available and you can seek advise on the ones for specific needs.
Language
Dhivehi is the language spoken in all parts of the Maldives. English is widely spoken by Maldivians and visitors can easily make themselves understood getting around the capital island. In the resorts, a variety of languages are spoken by the staff including English, German, French, Italian and Japanese.
Local Currency
Maldives has a non-convertible currency; therefore, Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR/MRF) cannot be purchased beforehand. Major international currencies can be changed at the airport on arrival or in the capital. The USD$ is accepted as legal tender and its exchange rate fluctuates between 12.75 to 15.42 to a dollar. The exchange rates for other currencies vary daily (visit http://www.bankofmaldives.com.mv/Information/Pages/rates.aspx for latest updates on exchange rates).
The currency exists in the following bank notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 and in the following coins: 1 & 2 MVR as well as 25 & 50 laaris.
Local Time
GMT + 5 hours
Communication
Maldives has a very efficient landline and mobile telephone system that operates effectively throughout the country. The office and hotel telephone lines have Subscribers Trunk Dialling (STD)/ International Direct Dialling (IDD) facilities. There are two major private telecommunications and internet providers in the Maldives named “Dhiraagu” and “Wataniya”. You can purchase a pre-paid SIM from either one on your visit to make cheap local calls. Pre-paid internet cards are also available, but most resorts and hotels facilitate broadband internet access to visitors.
Electricity
The electric system is 230-240 Volts -AC
Local Environment
Land wildlife and vegetation in the Maldives are limited in terms of bio-diversity. However, this aspect is overshadowed by the abundant marine flora and fauna to be found in the Maldives. The month of June 2011 even saw Baa Atoll of the Maldives being declared a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The Maldives is home to over 2,000 species of fish ranging from reef fish to Manta rays, Moray Eels, reef sharks and to the majestic whale shark. These marine eco-systems are both extremely vibrant and extremely fragile at the same time. Their vulnerability was made clearly evident by the nation-wide coral bleaching incident caused by the El Niño (An unusual warming of the surface water) of 1998. Furthermore, global warming and rampant pollution are becoming greater threats to the environment of the Maldives.
Weather
Maldives is located at the equator and experiences monsoonal climate. Maldives has two distinct seasons northeast monsoon (Iruvai) and southwest monsoon (Hulhangu). In these two seasons the temperature varies hardly. Northeast monsoon extends from December to March. Since Maldives consists of small islands and are surrounded by seas, hot days are often tempered by cooling sea breezes and balmy evening temperatures. Throughout the year, temperature remains almost same in the Maldives. However, daily temperature ranges from around 31 degrees Celsius in daytime to 23 degrees Celsius in nighttime. The southwest monsoon runs from April to November. In this season Maldives experiences occasional rain. The fact that the Maldives is located at the equator, Maldives receives plentiful of sunshine throughout the year. On average Southern atolls (Gan) of the Maldives receives 2704.07 hours of sunshine each year. Furthermore, on average central (Hulhule) parts of the country receives 2784.51 hours of sunshine per year.
Arrival & Immigration
No prior visa arrangements are required but each visitor must have a passport valid for more than six months.
The airport of your arrival to the Maldives is Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. You will need to fill in a landing card, which should be distributed by the crew of your flight. Alternatively, you can find the cards immediately before immigration booths. To obtain immigration clearance, it is a requirement to indicate [in the landing card] an address or provide proof that you have a booking at a hotel/resort
