Vol 2, Issue 2 (Q2 2026)

Welcome to Volume 2, Issue 2 (Q2 2026) of Maldives Economy Today. This issue brings together a collection of articles examining some of the most pressing economic and policy questions facing the Maldives. From foreign exchange pressures and fiscal sustainability to labour markets, skills development and the resilience of our economy, each contribution seeks to move beyond headlines and encourage evidence-based discussion. A recurring theme throughout this issue is that many o

The Maldives has gained time. Whether that time is used to address the structural weaknesses identified by the IMF, Fitch, and the World Bank may determine not only the country's economic trajectory, but also the affordability of everyday life and its resilience to future shocks.

The Maldivian economy often feels like it is in a state of disarray. Foreign exchange shortages, accumulating debt, fiscal pressures and the soaring cost of living frequently fuel public debates about the country's economic health. But does this point toward a recession?

An issue almost everyone in the Maldives, whether local or foreign, is grappling with is this: where can one obtain US dollars at the official exchange rate of MVR 15.42? While the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) continues to report that there has been "No significant change vs. previous months" in the Statistics Database, the reality experienced by individuals and businesses is very different. How does a country that marketed itself as one of the world’s premier luxury tou

What years of working with students reveal about this moment. The exams are done. For many families across the Maldives right now, there is a quiet exhale — the late nights, the revision, the anxiety, all of it temporarily set aside. But in that pause, before the results arrive and before the next enrolment begins, there is a window that often closes before anyone realises it was open. The window where a young person’s direction is still genuinely shapeable. This is the momen