Editorial

Dear reader,

As we welcome you back after a brief hiatus, our focus for Volume 2, Issue 1 of Maldives Economy Today is Maldives tourism and the nation's monetary outlook.

The tourism sector, considered the golden goose of the economy, is currently experiencing a concerning downturn due to the global energy and logistics crisis, yet its unique global appeal has enabled a historic resilience while its future potential to expand and diversify on the traditional offering shows significant promise. Policy Ledger takes aim at what might be a tragic misconception around the sector even as Abdul Haleem Abdul Latheef details the resilience Maldives' tourism has demonstrated over the past four decades. Ahmed Mihadh, in turn, explores adding meaningful value through the diversification of the sector.

Even as the US dollar has had a volatile time in most global markets, demand in the Maldives has not abated with the parallel market selling at well over 20 percent of the official rate  — Ahmed Mohamed (a) analyses whether the Maldives should float the Rufiyaa while (b) establishing the importance of an independent central bank.

Meanwhile guest writer Ali Adyb opines that, while the Maldives' Drug Act was once hailed regionally as a milestone piece of legislation, a lack of urgency in implementation continues to deny the nation its once bright promise.

These are some of the main issues we have chosen to cover in our first quarterly publication of 2026.

On another note; in addition to our presence on X, we are now also on LinkedIn so please be sure to follow us, and engage with us, there!

As always we hope you find our explorations useful and insightful in contributing to, and driving our collective discourse.

Viewpoints will differ, however it is our hope that presenting a well researched and considered point of view will add to and enrich discussions and outcomes.

Our thanks to the authors for their invaluable contributions to this issue.

And finally, as ever, we remain thankful to you dear reader, for your continued patronage.

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Maldives Economy Today, March 2026