🇲🇻

Asia · Destination guide

Maldives

Capital: Malé

Currency$ USD

LanguageDhivehi

Drive on⬅ Left

Plug typeType G · 230V

🛂Visa requirements

🇬🇧 UKVisa on arrival · 30d

🇺🇸 USVisa on arrival · 30d

🇦🇺 AUVisa on arrival · 30d

🇦🇪 UAEVisa on arrival · 30d

Check your specific passport on the visa checker

💳Money & payments

Cards: USD cash and cards accepted at all resorts. Local currency (MVR) only needed for local guesthouses and Malé shops.

ATMs: Limited outside Malé. Resorts operate largely cashless or on USD room charges.

Tipping

10% service charge usually included at resorts. Tipping dive instructors ($5–10/day), housekeeping ($5/day), and boat drivers ($5 on trips) is appreciated.

💬Language

Dhivehi

Widely spoken at resorts. Limited in outer islands.

Useful phrases

·Shukuriyya — Thank you
·Haadha Varah Bodah Shukuriyya — Thank you very much

🔌Electricity & plugs

Voltage230V

Plug typeType G (three rectangular pins — same as UK) or Type D

Resorts typically have multiple socket types including universal sockets. UK visitors: no adapter needed.

🤝Local customs & etiquette

1.The Maldives is a 100% Muslim nation. The uninhabited resort islands operate under different rules, but inhabited local islands require modest dress (shoulders and knees covered for both men and women).
2.Alcohol is only legal on resort islands and the airport. It cannot be brought onto local islands.
3.Pork products are not available on local islands.
4.Respect Friday prayer times on local islands — many shops close midday Friday.
5.Environmental respect: no coral touching, no fish feeding, no sunscreen that harms coral. The reef ecosystem is fragile.

📶SIM cards & connectivity

eSIM supportedGet an eSIM for Maldives

Local SIM: Dhiraagu and Ooredoo are the operators. SIMs at Malé airport. Most resorts have WiFi — quality varies by remoteness.

WiFi: Good at resorts. Remote atolls have limited connectivity — prepare offline entertainment for transfers.

🛡️Safety

Very safe on resort islands. Ocean safety: currents can be strong — follow resort guidance on safe swimming areas.

💉Health

No vaccinations required. Tap water on most islands is desalinated seawater — use bottled or resort water. Sunscreen: use reef-safe. Medical facilities: basic on most atolls; serious conditions require medevac to Malé or Sri Lanka.

🚨Emergency numbers

police

119

fire

118

ambulance

102

coast guard

191

🚗Driving

Traffic side⬅ Drive on the left

LicenceNot applicable for most tourists — resorts are accessed by speedboat or seaplane.

Explore Maldives

Itineraries in Maldives Events in Maldives Visa checker

💳Money & payments

Cards: USD cash and cards accepted at all resorts. Local currency (MVR) only needed for local guesthouses and Malé shops.

ATMs: Limited outside Malé. Resorts operate largely cashless or on USD room charges.

Tipping

10% service charge usually included at resorts. Tipping dive instructors ($5–10/day), housekeeping ($5/day), and boat drivers ($5 on trips) is appreciated.

🤝Local customs & etiquette

1.The Maldives is a 100% Muslim nation. The uninhabited resort islands operate under different rules, but inhabited local islands require modest dress (shoulders and knees covered for both men and women).

2.Alcohol is only legal on resort islands and the airport. It cannot be brought onto local islands.

3.Pork products are not available on local islands.

4.Respect Friday prayer times on local islands — many shops close midday Friday.

5.Environmental respect: no coral touching, no fish feeding, no sunscreen that harms coral. The reef ecosystem is fragile.