Society & Culture
Islam & Daily Life
The Maldives is 100% Sunni Islamic — it is the only country in the world where Islam is enshrined in the constitution as the only permitted religion. Only Muslims can hold citizenship. The call to prayer (Adhan) echoes five times a day from the mosques of every inhabited island, and during Ramadan, all Maldivians fast from sunrise to sunset.
This has practical implications for tourists:
- Alcohol: Freely available on resort islands (resorts have a special license). On local islands and in Malé, alcohol is prohibited — no beer, no wine, nothing. Importing alcohol is also prohibited and will be confiscated at customs.
- Clothing: No restrictions on resort islands — bikinis, swim trunks, everything is allowed. On local islands, shoulders and knees must be covered, except at the designated "Bikini Beach". When entering mosques: long clothing, women with head coverings.
- Food: Pork is banned throughout the Maldives. In resorts, everything is imported (and clearly labeled as "Pork"), on local islands there is no pork.
- Friday: The Islamic day of rest. Many shops and public ferries have reduced hours on Fridays or do not operate.
Despite the conservative framework, Maldivians are hospitable and open to tourists. The strict separation between resorts and local islands has historically ensured that cultural tensions remain low. On local islands, where tourists and locals share space, coexistence works surprisingly well — as long as visitors respect local norms.
Achtung
Religious artifacts, statues of gods, alcohol, and pork products may not be imported. Luggage is scanned at the airport — alcohol is retained (but returned upon departure). Bibles and other religious texts are allowed for personal use but may not be distributed.
Traveling during Ramadan
Ramadan, the holy fasting month of Islam, lasts 29–30 days and shifts forward by about 11 days each year (Islamic lunar calendar). In the resorts, you hardly notice Ramadan — service and food continue as usual. On local islands, however, several changes occur:
- Restaurants: Many local restaurants are closed during the day or serve only behind screens to tourists. Guesthouse restaurants remain open for guests.
- Atmosphere: The islands are quieter during the day, many locals rest. In the evening after Iftar (breaking the fast at sunset), life returns — the streets fill up, the Hotaa cafes are full, and the atmosphere is festive.
- Respect: Although tourists do not have to fast, it is polite not to eat, drink, or smoke in public during the day — this is especially true on local islands.
- Excursions: Most tour operators operate normally, but some crews are less energetic due to fasting. Early morning tours (before the heat) are recommended.
Ramadan Dates (Approximate)
| Year | Ramadan Start (approx.) | Eid al-Fitr (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | February 17 | March 19 |
| 2027 | February 7 | March 8 |
| 2028 | January 27 | February 25 |
Tipp
Ramadan can be a particularly rewarding time to travel: prices drop by 20–40%, the islands are quieter, and in the evening you can experience the Iftar feast — many guesthouse families invite their guests to join. An unforgettable cultural experience.
Women in Maldivian Society
The role of women in the Maldives is more complex than stereotypes suggest. On one hand, the society is patriarchal and conservative — on the other hand, the Maldives had sultanas on the throne as early as the 14th century, and the literacy rate for women is over 98%.
- Education: Women have equal access to education, and they make up the majority of university students
- Work: The guesthouse revolution has turned many women into entrepreneurs — they run hotels, restaurants, and dive schools on local islands
- Clothing: In Malé, many women wear hijab, on some islands niqab. On other islands and in resorts, younger Maldivian women dress in Western styles. The range is wide
- Challenges: Domestic violence and high divorce rates (the Maldives has one of the highest divorce rates in the world) remain societal issues
For travelers: On local islands, solo female travelers are treated with respect and curiosity. Maldivian hospitality knows no gender differences. Important: In conservative households, women and men who are not married are sometimes asked to stay in separate rooms — this is a sign of respect, not rejection.
Dhivehi, Fishing & Island Culture
The Dhivehi language (ދިވެހި) is an Indo-Aryan language closely related to the Sinhalese of Sri Lanka — it is written in the Thaana script, which is read from right to left and looks like a mix of Arabic and its own characters. Dhivehi has borrowed words from Arabic, Hindi, Tamil, and Portuguese and sounds exotic and melodic to European ears.
In tourism, English is spoken everywhere — the Maldives has one of the highest English proficiency rates in Asia. In resorts, English is the working language, and on local islands, most guesthouse operators and tour guides speak fluent English.
Fishing — The Soul of the Maldives
Before tourism arrived, the Maldives was a fishing nation. Tuna fishing with the pole and line method is the traditional way — the Maldives bans trawl fishing, making their fish stocks among the most sustainable in the world. The daily catch is brought to the fish market in Malé or preserved as Valomas (smoked and dried tuna) — a staple found in almost every Maldivian dish.
The Pole-and-Line Method
The Maldivian tuna fishery is a UNESCO candidate for intangible cultural heritage. The method has remained unchanged for centuries:
- Catching bait: At 4:00 AM, fishermen go out with nets to catch small baitfish (fusiliers)
- Locating tuna schools: The fishermen look for bird shadows and jumping fish on the surface
- Chumming: Live baitfish are thrown into the water to trigger a feeding frenzy among the tuna
- Fishing: With barbless hooks and short rods, the tuna are pulled out of the water one by one — one fish per cast, each over 10 kg
This method has no bycatch — no turtles, no dolphins, no sharks. This makes the Maldives the most sustainable tuna producer in the world. The downside: The method is labor-intensive, and Maldivian tuna is more expensive than industrially caught tuna.
The Dhoni — Soul of the Archipelago
The Dhoni is the traditional boat of the Maldives and something of a national symbol — it adorns banknotes and the national emblem. Originally a sailing boat with a distinctive high prow reminiscent of the beaks of Arab dhows, Dhonis are now motorized but have remained unchanged in basic form for centuries.
Dhoni Types
| Type | Length | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Mas Dhoni | 10–15 m | Fishing — the workhorse of the Maldivian economy |
| Bokkuraa | 3–5 m | Small rowing boat for short distances between islands |
| Vedhi | 15–25 m | Freight Dhoni for transport between atolls |
| Safari Dhoni | 20–30 m | Converted Dhoni for diving safaris and cruises |
Dhoni building is a dying art. The few remaining Dhoni masters (Maavadi) on islands like Alifushi (Raa Atoll) build a boat entirely by hand — without technical plans, only by eye and experience. A traditional Dhoni takes 2–3 months to build and costs 50,000–200,000 MVR (3,000–13,000 €). The planks are made from imported coconut wood or teak and sealed with coconut fibers.
Tourists can visit a Dhoni shipyard on Alifushi (Raa Atoll) — a fascinating experience that most Maldives travelers miss.
Crafts, Music & Traditions
Lacquerware (Liyelaa Laajehun)
The most intricate craft tradition of the Maldives: Wooden vessels (mostly made from Alexandrian laurel) are carved on a lathe and then painted in vivid colors — red, black, yellow, green — with lacquer. Traditional patterns are geometric and reminiscent of Islamic calligraphy. Lacquerware was once used as a gift for foreign rulers and described by Ibn Battuta as "more beautiful than Chinese porcelain". Today, the tradition is almost extinct — only on Thulusdhoo (North Malé Atoll) and some islands in the Baa Atoll are there still masters. Small pieces from 500 MVR (~30 €), museum quality from 5,000 MVR (~300 €).
Mat Weaving (Thundu Kunaa)
In the southern atolls, especially on Gadhdhoo (Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll), women weave intricate mats from the leaves of the screw pine (Pandanus). The mats are dyed — traditionally with natural pigments from plants and shells — and woven into geometric patterns. A high-quality Kunaa can require months of work and costs 2,000–10,000 MVR (130–650 €). They serve as prayer rugs, sleeping mats, and wall decorations.
Boduberu — The Heartbeat of the Maldives
Boduberu (literally: "big drum") is the traditional music and dance form of the Maldives — a group performance that begins with slow, hypnotic rhythms and builds to an ecstatic crescendo. A group of 15–20 men drum, sing, and dance themselves into a state reminiscent of African trance rituals — no coincidence, as the roots of Boduberu likely lie in the East African Bantu heritage of the early settlers.
Many resorts offer Boduberu evenings for guests — the performance is spectacular and provides insight into a culture otherwise hidden behind resort walls. On local islands, Boduberu is performed at weddings, Eid festivals, and national holidays.
Bodu Mas — The Great Fish
On some islands, the Bodu Mas is performed during festivals — a ritual dance where a giant fish made of palm leaves and fabric is carried through the streets, accompanied by drummers and singers. The tradition harks back to pre-Islamic fertility rituals and is now preserved as cultural heritage.
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