The Government of the Maldives
Overview
- Capital: Malé
- Administrative regions: 21 administrative divisions — 20 atolls plus the City of Malé (Addu also holds separate city status within its atoll)
- Government & legal system: Presidential republic. Unusually, the President serves as both head of state and head of government — there is no separate Prime Minister. Legal system is a civil-law framework with Islamic Sharia as its foundational source; the Constitution establishes Islam as the state religion and requires citizenship to be held only by Muslims. (government site)
- Head of state / government: Mohamed Muizzu, President — head of state and head of government, in office since November 17, 2023 (official page)
- Official language(s): Dhivehi (official)
- National Day: National Day, set annually on a rotating date in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, commemorates a 1573 victory over Portuguese forces; Independence Day is fixed on the Gregorian calendar (see below)
- Independence: July 26, 1965 (from Britain)
- Other official holidays: Republic Day (Nov 11), Victory Day (Nov 3), Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (official site)
- Regional / international memberships: UN, SAARC, Commonwealth (rejoined 2020 after a 2016 withdrawal), Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement
- Visa / entry requirements: A free 30-day visa is issued on arrival to almost all nationalities — no advance visa application is required for most tourists. (visa info)
- Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR) — notes depict the national emblem, traditional dhoni sailing boats, and Islamic architectural motifs rather than portraits of individuals.
- Flag symbolism: A red-bordered rectangular field with a green rectangle centered, containing a white crescent moon — red represents the bravery of those who defended the nation, green represents peace and prosperity, and the white crescent represents Islam, the state religion.
