Language spoken in Maldives- Dhivehi which is their official language and an Indo-aryan

language.
Architecture- Most of the Maldives' early architecture is in the form of housing and due to
its location at sea level this meant most traditional housing was built on stilts. Although
today many buildings are constructed from modern materials and in modern techniques,
the stilt house is still popular on some islands.

In more recent times most lasting construction has been built, but again in limited
numbers,primarily due to the fact that there is little land and traditionally little money in the
islands. The only place that has received much of this modern architecture is the capital of
Male. Here you can find mosques, markets, houses, and more in stone, brick, and concrete.

Latest news regarding the architecture of Maldives-

World first underwater hotel to open in Maldives.

After years of construction, the world's first underwater hotel has officially opened in
the Maldives. The hotel, part of the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, will allow guests to
relax within the waters of the Indian Ocean and is touted by the developers as "an
ambitious display of architecture, design, and technology."

CAA Architects Reveals Futuristic Eco-City Design for the Maldives-

CAA Architects have won first prize in the Maldives Airport Economic Zone competition.
Their winning proposal, "Ocean’s Heaven" is a mixed use development made to embrace
tropical culture and ocean systems with renewable energy structures in a living belt design.
Facing global warming and rising sea levels, the project hopes to create a new model for
sustainable development before the Maldives disappear from the world forever.

Cuisines/Food Habits:
Since Maldives is almost 99% sea, it is not surprising that fish (mainly tuna) is the most
important staple of the Maldivian diet. The cuisine found in the island nation is a mix of
Arabic, Indian, Sri Lankan and Oriental influences. But the ninety odd tourist resorts
scattered throughout the islands host diverse international menus, so it’s entirely possible
to eat your way around the world while staying in luxury at one of these resorts. Sample
Japanese teppanyaki, fine Italian cuisine, the spicy flavours of India and Thailand, traditional
Chinese, fine upscale dining, or just a casual snack. Of course, seafood plays a starring role,
regardless of which country’s techniques are on display, but those who prefer their food to
come from dry land will still have plenty of options.
Coconuts are another major part of many dishes in Maldives and can be served in grated
form, as milk or as coconut oil which is used to deep fry foods. Favourite fish include
skipjack tuna, little tunney, yellowfin tuna, frigate tuna, bigeye scad, wahoo and mahi-mahi.
The wealth of resort dining options in Maldives means some unique dining opportunities as
well. Several resorts feature underwater restaurants to truly ‘immerse’ diners in what
Maldives is all about. Some resorts also attract celebrity chefs or hold cooking classes for
that extra special experience.
Popular dishes include:
If you do have the opportunity to try ‘local’ food, here are some Maldives specialties worth
sampling.
Garudhiya: a fish broth served with rice, lime, chili and onions.
Mas huni: shredded smoked fish with grated coconuts and onions. This is considered the
most popular breakfast food in the country.
Fihunu mas: barbecued fish that has been basted with chili.
Hedhikaa is the local word for snacks in the islands and some of the favourites are:
• bajiya: pastry that is stuffed with fish, coconuts and onion.
• gulha: pastry balls that are stuffed with smoked fish.
• keemia: deep fried fish rolls.
• kulhi boakiba: a spicy fish cake.
• masroshi: mas huni that has been wrapped in roshi bread and is then baked.
• thelui mas: fried fish cooked with chili and garlic.
Drink
When visiting Maldives, it is best to stick with bottled water as this is safer and when in
doubt, always ask. As the islands are an Islamic nation, the population does not drink
alcohol, however, it is available in most resorts. Locals instead prefer to drink sai or tea Raa
is a traditional drink and is a toddy that has been tapped from palm trees. It is sometimes
left to ferment.

Government.The legislative assembly known as the Majlis is composed of fifty members:

two from Malé, two from each of the twenty administrative atolls, and eight appointed by
the president. The speaker of the Majlis is not a member of that body and is appointed by
the president. Even though all the members have the right to attend sessions and speak at
the Majlis, only elected members can vote. The right to vote is universal for those age
twenty one years and over. The head of the government is the president who is nominated
in a secret ballot by the Majlis, and then elected by a majority vote at a national referendum
for a five-year term. The president appoints the ministers and all judges to the courts. The
high court consists of a chief justice and four judges.
The executive branch is divided into the president's office, the attorney general's office, and
seventeen ministries and associated entities that implement government programs. The
ministries of government, the attorney general's office, and the high court all function under
the president's office. The current president is also the governor of the central bank.
Leadership and Political Control.The government appoints an atoll chief who exercises the
government power. Each island has an island chief appointed by the government who is the
administrative head of the island. The atoll offices and the island offices come under the
Ministry of Atoll Administration, which is responsible to the president.
Social Problems and Control.Historically, the society has been closely knit and disciplined as
a result of unity of religion (Sunni Muslim) and language. Although there was civil unrest in
the past, it was mostly related to power struggles within the government, and the stormy
relationship between Maldives and the British government prior to the termination of
Britain's military presence in the islands in 1976.
Military Activity.The country maintains only one security unit, the National Security Service.
This organization has about 1,800 personnel who perform army, police, and maritime
duties. Because of the geographic spread of the islands, it is impossible to have a military
presence on every island and for the coast guards to protect the area. Since independence,
the country has not faced any external threats.

Electoral Process-

Maldives elects on national level a head of state, the president, and a legislature. The
president is elected directly for a five-year term by the people.

The Assembly (Majlis) has 88 members . All members are elected directly for a term of five
years from 88 single-member constituencies.
Recent news related to their political environment-

State of emergency declared in the Maldives-

The Indian Ocean island nation of the Maldives is engulfed in a political crisis, after the
President defied a Supreme Court ruling to reinstall opposition MPs and release political
prisoners.

President Abdulla Yameen instead declared a state of emergency and ordered the arrest the
chief justice a former President.
In a TV address, Yameen insisted that it was business as usual and urged Maldivians to
remain calm. He claimed the Supreme Court had acted "hastily" and argued that his actions
were designed to prevent a coup.
On Tuesday, President Yameen said in a statement the Supreme Court had decided to
reverse he ruling that precipitated the crisis and nine political prisoners would not be
released.

History and Ethnic Relations

Emergence of the Nation. The early settlers probably came before 500B.C.E., from Sri Lanka
and southern India. In the twelfth century, sailors from East Africa and Arab countries
arrived. Originally, Maldivians were Buddhists, but in the twelfth century Islam was
proclaimed the national religion. The
Maldives has always been an independent political entity except when it was under
Portuguese control from 1558 to 1573. In 1887, the Maldives agreed to become
a protectorate of the British government, allowing the British to take responsibility for it
defense and foreign relations while maintaining for itself internal control. The first
constitution was ratified by the Sultan in 1932, and the sultanate became an elected rather
than hereditary position.
National Identity. The Maldives regained full sovereignty in 1965 and joined the United
Nations that year. In 1968, the sultanate was abolished and the republic was declared. On
11 November 1968, the Republic of Maldives was created with an elected president. The
country joined the British Commonwealth in 1982.
Ethnic Relations. The population consists of a mix of people who trace their descent from
Sri Lanka, India, Arab countries, and Africa. Because of religious and linguistic homogeneity,
there is stability and unit.

Religion
Religious Beliefs.Islam is the only national religion; no other religions are permitted. All
Maldivians belong to the Sunni sect. Only Muslims may become citizens, marry, or own
property in Maldives, and daily life is regulated according to the tenets of Islam. The
widespread belief injinns,or evil spirits, has resulted in a blending of Islam with traditional
island beliefs into a magico-religious system known asfandita.
Religious Practitioners.The political, judicial, and religious systems in Maldives are so closely
intertwined that the political leaders and judges are also the country's religious leaders. The
president is considered the primary religious leader, and judges, known asgazis,are
responsible for interpreting Islamic law in the courts.
Rituals and Holy Places.Most holidays are based on the Islamic lunar calendar. In addition
to the Golden Grand Friday mosque, twenty other mosques are scattered around Malé.
Mosques are also found in each of the islands. In Malé, a graveyard holds the tomb of Abu
Al Barakat, a North African Arab who brought the Koran to the Maldives in the twelfth
century. He later became the first sultan. Also located in this graveyard are tombstones of
all the former sultans.
Death and the Afterlife.In accordance with the Islamic faith, the people of Maldives believe
that people go to heaven or hell after death, depending on how faithfully they adhered to
the five tenets of Islam while still alive. Believers are considered worthy to enter heaven if
they were faithful to repeat the creed "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the
prophet of Allah"; fast during the month of Ramadan; pray five times every day; give alms to
the poor; and, if possible, make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca sometime during their
lifetime.

MAP OF MALDIVES

Location on world map

Located in the continent of Asia, Maldives covers 298 square kilometers of land, making it
the 214th largest nation in terms of land area.
Population 394,451

Density 1,323.7 / km2 ( 3,428.3 / mi2 )

Language Dhivehi

Independence Year 1965

Capital Male (Maale)

Currency Rufiyaa

GDP 3,032,239,478

GDP per Capita 7,687

Land Area 298 km2

Minimum Longitude 73.080

Maximum Longitude 73.580

Mininum Latitude -0.700

Maximum Latitude 6.930

Area : Comprising a territory spanning roughly 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi), the
Maldives is one of the world's most geographically dispersed sovereign states as well as the
smallest Asian country by land area and population
Climate : The Maldives has a year-round hot tropical climate. There are two monsoons, the
southwest from May to October and the northeast from November to April. Generally the
southwest brings more wind and rain in June and July. The temperature rarely falls below
25°C (77°F)
Time-zone : Time difference between India Standard Time (IST) and Indian/Maldives is 0:30
hours ie., Indian/Maldives time is always 0:30 hours ahead of India Standard Time (IST)
Rivers : No rivers
Vegetation types : The tropical vegetation of Maldives differs in the inhabited and in the
uninhabited islands. Inhabited islands have small groves of banana, papaya, drumstick and
citrus trees by the homesteads, while breadfruit trees and coconut palms are grown in
available patches of land
Natural resources : Fish
Flora and fauna : FLORA- Most islands have poor, sandy soil and vegetation range from thick
to sparse to none at all. The vegetated islands have mangroves, breadfruit trees, banyans,
bamboo, pandanus, banana, tropical vines, and numerous coconut palms. The larger, wetter
islands have small areas of rain forest. Sweet potatoes, yams, taro, millet, and watermelon
are grown. The most fertile island is Fuvahmulah in the extreme south, which supports a
wider variety of crops, including citrus fruit and pineapples.

FAUNA- Giant fruit bats or flying foxes are widespread on many islands; you’ll see them
cruising past at dusk. Colorful lizards are quite common, and there is the occasional rat.
Domestic animals include cats, a few chickens, and the odd rabbit. A few islands rear goats,
but cows are rare.

The mosquito population differs from island to island but tends not to be too bothersome in
Malé and the villages. Other invertebrates include ants, centipedes, scorpions, and
cockroaches. None of these is a problem.

Birdwatchers will do better than wildlife spotters. Land birds include crows, the white-
breasted water hen and the rose-ringed parakeet. Migratory birds drop in too, like harriers
and falcons, but waders like plover, snipe, curlew, and sandpiper are more common. Several
types of heron can be seen in the shallows, and there are terns, seagulls and two species of
noddy.
Wildlife : Fruit Bats , Lizards, Skinks and Geckos Snakes, Turtles, Birds ,Whales and Dolphins,
Hammerhead Sharks, Reef Sharks and Whale Sharks , Manta Rays, Sting Rays and Eagle
Rays.
Sea ports- Male

ABOUT THE COUNTRY

Capital: Male
National flag: The flag of the Republic of Maldives is green with a redborder. The centre
bears a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the

flag. It was adopted on 25 July 1965

National anthem: Until the late 1940s the state anthem of the Maldives was a melody with
no lyrics. It was called the Salaamathi and was performed by the royal band on state
occasions at the Etherekoilu, the official residence of the King.

In 1948 it was determined that the Salaamathi needed replacement with lyrics to
accompany a new melody. The words were composed by a young poet and later a chief
justice, Mohamed Jameel Didi.

Jameel Didi looked around for a tune to accompany his poem. His uncle, the chief justice
Hussain Salahuddine, had just acquired a new clock that played a tune at the stroke of
midday, the Scottish folk song “Auld Lang Syne”, and Jameel decided to use that tune for his
poem (slightly modified to fit the words).
Although the Salaamathi survived as the royal anthem until 1964, it did not occur to anyone
to adopt it as the national anthem. In 1972, for the first time in history, the Maldives hosted
a foreign head of state – Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The Maldive
government of the time deemed it necessary to compose a different tune for the anthem
instead. Hastily they commissioned the composition of a new melody. The new melody of
the Maldive national anthem was composed by a distinguished Sri Lankan maestro, Pandit
Wannakuwattawaduge Don Amaradeva. The original lyrics were used, with some changes to
mark the fact that Maldives has been a republic since 1968

 Cities
 Hulhumalé
 Hulhumeedhoo
 Kudahuvadhoo
 Kulhudhuffushi
 Magoodhoo: Addu City
 Dhidhdhoo
 Kulhudhuffushi
 Eydhafushi
 Farukolhufunadhoo
 Felidhoo
 Funadhoo
 Fuvahmulah
 Gan
 Hinnavaru
 Hithadhoo
 Mahibadhoo
 Malé - Capital
 Manadhoo
 Maroshi
 Midu
 Mula
 Naifaru
 Nolhivaranfaru
 Thinadhoo
 Ungoofaaru
 Veymandhoo
 Veymandoo
 Viligili
 Villingili

Another Important thing: Maldives is an important member of SAARC. It is strategically

located along major sea lanes in the Indian Ocean.Though India wants political stability and
multi-party democracy to return to the country, it has no role in the ongoing developments
in Maldives.
National sport: Football
Population: 4,49,644 (2019 data) Maldives population is equivalent to 0.01% of the total
world population. Maldives ranks number 173 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by
population.
Per capita income: The GDP per capita is obtained by dividing the country’s gross domestic
product, adjusted by inflation, by the total population. This page provides - Maldives GDP per
capita - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.
Maldives GDP per capita - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last
updated on March of 2019.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency

8980.00 8416.90 8980.00 4600.70 1995 - 2017 USD Yearly

GDP and rating: 4.866 Billion

Whether facing any terror: The Maldivian authorities confirmed in 2017 and 2018 that a
number of men had been arrested on terrorism charges relating to attack planning in the
Maldives.There’s a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and
British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria.

Educational institutions: A National University Act was passed in January 2011 to establish
the first university in the Maldives.[1] Institutions offering higher education in the Maldives
are:

 Maldives National University which was previously known as the Maldives College of
Higher Education. The college had offered 95% of the post-secondary education in the
Maldives[2]:266
 Cyryx College
 Mandhu College which provides tertiary education to lower and higher secondary
school leavers.
 Villa College which has offered degree courses in computing and IT since 2007.[2]:10[3]
 MAPS College
 Ixcel Centre for Professional Studies
 Avid College
 Maldives Business School

Country is known for : The Maldives are known for their natural environment including the
blue ocean, white beaches, and clean air. The climate of the Maldives is ideal for visitors to
get engaged in water sports such as swimming, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, water-
skiing.
Import/Export:
Export-Maldives exported 309 million dollar making it the 166th largest exporter in the
world. During the last 5 years the export of Maldives have increased at an annualised rate of
5.9% from 236 million in 2012 to 309 million in 2018. The most recent exports are led by
petroleum gas which represents 46.7% of the total exports of Maldives followed by fish
fillets which account for 19.8%

Import-Imports in Maldives increased to 258.20 USD Million in November from 242.30 USD
Million in October of 2018. Imports in Maldives averaged 133.28 USD Million from 2005 until
2018, reaching an all time high of 284.40 USD Million in March of 2018 and a record low of
57.30 USD Million in April of 2005.
The Maldives mainly imports fuel, aircraft, wood, prefabricated buildings, iron and steel,
telecommunication equipment, vegetables and cement. The Maldives’ main imports partners
are the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, China, Thailand and
United States. This page provides - Maldives Imports - actual values, historical data, forecast,
chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Maldives Imports - actual data, historical chart
and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2019.

Trading partners: The top export destinations of Maldives are Sri Lanka ($155M), the United
States ($33.1M), France ($24.2M), Germany ($21.1M) and the United Kingdom ($13M). The
top import origins are China ($274M), Singapore ($226M), India ($210M), Malaysia ($129M)
and Sri Lanka ($113M).

 Overall ranking in import/export: Maldives, Service imports (BoP, current US$) is

1,299,043,372.46.
 Maldives, Service exports (BoP, current US$) is 3,149,637,127.22.
 Maldives, Imports of goods and services as percentage of GDP is 72.29 %.
 Maldives, Exports of goods and services as percentage of GDP is 71.18 %.

Limitations on account of location: The Maldives’ strategic location has encouraged India to
continue its efforts to engage. In July 2015, the Maldives amended its constitution to allow
foreign ownership of land, sparking Indian fears that China would try to develop “strategic
assets” in the archipelago. Both China and the Maldives denied this, but the constitutional
change nonetheless prompted India to revisit its relationship to the country. Indian External
Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took a trip to the Maldives just after the amendment came
into force.
India remains cautious, however, about trying to play a role in sorting out the political chaos
in the Maldives. The growing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean enables the Maldives to
capitalize on the “China card” to limit India’s options by raising the possibility that Indian
withdrawal or criticism will encourage the archipelago to tilt towards China. Additionally,
while Modi’s “Neighborhood First” policy and Indian Ocean tour suggest that the security
and common economic development of the region are high priorities for India, Maldivian
President Yameen has made clear his view that foreign powers should keep out of the
archipelago’s internal politics. Engaging in a dispute with the Maldives over domestic issues
would have severely degraded the prospects of Modi’s fledgling Indian Ocean diplomacy.
For its part, the Maldives benefits from its ability to balance between China and India,
turning their geopolitical competition into engagement and aid. By moving closer to China,
Yameen impelled India to overcome its grievances tied to Maldivian domestic politics,
demonstrating the country’s ability to use geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean to its
advantage.

Political factors: The Maldives is justifiably famous for its breathtakingly beautiful beaches
and breathtakingly expensive luxury hotels. But while the water of the coral reefs that
surround them may be crystal clear, politics in the so-called "island paradise" has always
been very murky indeed. The political drama is centred, not on the beaches but on Malé,
the tiny, urbanised island where all of the Maldives' major institutions are based and which
is one of the most densely populated cities on Earth.

For 30 years the country was a corrupt autocracy, ruled with the proverbial "iron fist" by
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. President Gayoom shrugged off numerous coup attempts during
his three decades in power, but the wily tactician could not resist forever the growing
demand for democratic reform. In 2008, a charismatic young progressive, Mohamed
Nasheed, swept to power in the country's first democratic elections.He rolled back
repressive laws, bolstered democratic institutions and captured the world's attention with
an underwater cabinet meeting to highlight the risks of rising sea levels.

Major industries/Key companies: The manufacturing sector is small and limited by the
shortage of domestic labour. Important traditional industries in the Maldives include, boat
building, the manufacture of coir, a rope made from dried coconut fibers, and lacemaking
(handmade pillow lace), introduced by the Dutch in the 17th
century. Maldivianlacquerwork and finely woven mats are famous for their quality and
design. Coconuts, copra, shells, tortoiseshell, bone dust, red stone, ambergris, and
handicrafts are also produced locally as well as exported. All fishing is done by the
traditional line and pole method as the use of nets is illegal. The country's fishing fleet of
small, flat bottomed boats have, however, shifted from using sails and oars to outboard
motors. In May 2001, the government ended its monopoly of the export tuna sector, and
four Maldivian operations were licensed to buy and export fresh tuna. Modern industry is
limited to tuna canneries and other fish-processing, several apparel factories, built during
the past decade, a soft drink bottling plant, and small scale manufacturing enterprises that
produce PVC pipe, soap, furniture, and food products. Tourism has been developing since
the first resort was built in 1977. There were 84 resorts in operation, cruise tourism was
introduced by the Ministry of Tourism.

Past or historic influence:

Company which have become known due to country: