TABLE OF CONTENTS

•A FORM OF GOVERNMENT
•ECONOMY
•SOCIAL
•POLITICAL
•STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
•THE THINGS THAT CAN BE ADAPTED IN THE PHILIPPINES
•REFERENCES
MALDIVES
THIS ISLAND NATION IS BOUND BY MILE AFTER MILE OF COASTLINE. THIS PLACE INCLUDES COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF
BEACHES AND BREATHTAKING ATTRACTIONS.

➢ CAPITAL CITY: MALE

➢ CURRENCY: MALDIVIAN RUFIYAA

➢ CONTINENT: ASIA

➢ PRESIDENT: IBRAHIM MOHAMED SOLIH

A FORM OF GOVERNMENT
➢The Maldives operates under a presidential system of
government. This means that the President of the Maldives is
both the head of state and head of government. The president
is responsible for the execution of the law and the
functioning of the government, and is also the commanderin-
chief of the Maldivian military. The president is elected by
the people and serves a term of five years. The current
constitution of the Maldives was adopted in 2008, which establish a multi-party system.
ECONOMY
TOURISM, FISHING AND SHIPPING ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SECTORS ECONOMY.
TOURISM ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN 30% OF GDP AND OVER 60% OF FOREIGN
CURRENCY EARNINGS. OVER 90% OF GOVERNMENT TAX REVENUE COMES FROM
IMPORT DUTIES AND TOURISM-RELATED TAXES.
THE MALDIVES HAS BECOME ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST SCUBA DIVING
DESTINATION, BECAUSE OF THE WHITE SAND BEACHES, CORAL REEFS , CLEAR
WARM WATERS, SCUBA DIVING SITES AND RICH MARINE LIFE.
• FISHING WHICH IS THE SECOND MAIN INDUSTRY, FORMS THE ONLY
ECONOMIC GAIN FROM EXPORTS
 CULTURE
BEING AN ISLAND NATION, MALDIVES' CULTURE IS BASED ON THE ISLAND LIFESTYLE AND REVOLVES AROUND
THE SEA. THE CULTURE OF MALDIVES IS INFLUENCED BY THE CULTURES OF THE INDIANS, AFRICANS, ARABS
AND THE SRI LANKANS. MALDIVIANS HAVE ASSIMILATED PARTS OF ALL THESE AND BUILT A CULTURE THAT
IS UNIQUE. ONE CAN STILL FIND DRAVIDIAN INFLUENCES ON MANY ASPECTS OF THE LIFESTYLE OF MALDIVES
EVEN TODAY. AS A RESULT OF THIS MELANGE, ALTHOUGH ONE CAN SEE SIMILARITIES AND LINK IT BACK TO
OTHER CULTURES, THE MALDIVIAN CULTURE HAS EMERGED AS ITS OWN UNIQUE IDENTITY - SOMETHING
WHICH ALL MALDIVIANS ARE PROUD OF.
 LANGUAGE
• THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE MALDIVES IS CALLED
DHIVEHI WHICH IS OF INDO-IRANIAN SANSKRITIC ORIGIN.
ONE CAN SEE THAT THIS LANGUAGE BORROWS FROM ALL THE INFLUENCE
AND CULTURE OF MALDIVES. DHIVEHI IS RELATED
TO SINHALESE - THE LANGUAGE OF SRI LANKA - AND OTHER INDIAN
LANGUAGES, ALTHOUGH, NOW THEY'RE NO LONGER MUTUALLY
INTELLIGIBLE.
 RELIGION
• ISLAM IS THE OFFICIAL AND ONLY ALLOWED RELIGION IN THE
MALDIVES. TO BE A CITIZEN OR TO OWN LAND, ONE HAS TO BE A
SUNNI MUSLIM. HISTORICALLY, MALDIVES WAS A BUDDHIST
COUNTRY FOR A LONG TIME. HOWEVER, IN THE 12TH CENTURY, A
NORTH AFRICAN ARAB KNOWN AS ABU AL BARAKAT BROUGHT THE
FIRST KORAN TO THE ISLAND. ACCORDING TO RECORDS, MALDIVES
BECOME AN ISLAMIC COUNTRY IN 1152 AD.
CUISINE AND FOOD
OF MALDIVES
• CUISINE AND FOOD OF MALDIVES THE CUISINE OF
MALDIVES, LIKE THE LIFESTYLE, IS DEPENDANT ON THE
SEA. THEREFORE, FISH IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE
CULTURE OF MALDIVIES. THE STYLE OF COOKING
AGAIN DRAWS INFLUENCE FROM ARAB, INDIAN AND
SRI LANKAN STYLES.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
• THE MALDIVIANS ARE EXPERT CRAFTSMEN. THEY ARE INCREDIBLY
SKILLED AT WOOD CARVING AND LACQUER WORK MAKING BEAUTIFUL
AND INTRICATE DESIGNS THAT ARE ASTOUNDING. THE CARVINGS AT
THE FRIDAY MOSQUE ARE A TESTAMENT TO THESE. THE WOMEN OF THE
COUNTRY ALSO MAKE BEAUTIFUL WOVEN MATS MADE FROM REEDS
THAT ARE DYED AND WOVEN INTO BEAUTIFUL INTRICATE PATTERNS.
ONE CAN ALSO FIND BEAUTIFUL JEWELLERY MADE BY LOCALS ADDING
TO THE CULTURE OF MALDIVES.
 MUSIC AND DANCE IN
MALDIVES
• BOTH MUSIC AND DANCE FORM AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE
CULTURE OF MALDIVES. BOTH OF THESE ARE HEAVILY
INFLUENCED BY NORTH INDIAN STYLES OF MUSIC AND DANCE.
THE INDIAN FILM INDUSTRY PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE, WITH
 BOLLYWOOD MOVIES AND MUSIC BEING POPULAR AMONGST A LOT OF PEOPLE. OLD HINDI SONGS STILL REMAIN
VERY POPULAR AND ACTUALLY ARE AN INSPIRATION FOR MANY MALDIVIAN SONGS TOO!

MALDIVIAN FESTIVAL
• SINCE THE PRIMARY RELIGION OF THE MALDIVES IS ISLAM, MOST
OF THE FESTIVALS CELEBRATED HERE ARE ISLAMIC FESTIVALS.
THE MAJOR FESTIVAL OF MALDIVES IS EID. IT IS REVELLED WITH
POMP, AND ARDOUR THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, LIKE IN OTHER
ISLAMIC COUNTRIES. THE OTHER BIG ISLAMIC FESTIVAL
CELEBRATED HERE IS THE BIRTHDAY OF THE PROPHET WHERE
MOSQUES ARE FULL OF PEOPLE PRAYING.
 MALDIVIAN SOCIETY AND
OCCUPATION
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE SOCIETY AND CULTURE OF MALDIVES IS
DEPENDANT ON THE SEA. DAY TO DAY LIFE AND SOCIETY THUS
REVOLVES AROUND THE SEA AND THE JOBS THAT PEOPLE DO. UNLIKE
SOME OTHER COUNTRIES OF SOUTH ASIA THAT THE MALDIVES
BORROWS ITS CULTURE FROM, WHERE PATRIARCHY IS PREVALENT, AND THE WOMEN ARE EXPECTED TO BE
SUBSERVIENT, IN MALDIVES WOMEN PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SOCIETY.

SOCIAL
THE MALDIVES HAS A SOCIAL STRUCTURE BASED ON TRADITIONAL ISLAMIC VALUES, WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON FAMILY
AND COMMUNITY. THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IS SUNNI MUSLIM, AND ISLAMIC PRACTICES ARE DEEPLY
INGRAINED IN DAILY LIFE. THE FAMILY UNIT IS HIGHLY VALUED, WITH EXTENDED FAMILIES OFTEN LIVING TOGETHER IN
TRADITIONAL HOUSES CALLED "GIRAAVARU." MARRIAGE AND CHILDBIRTH ARE CELEBRATED WITH ELABORATE
CEREMONIES, AND THE BIRTH OF A CHILD IS CONSIDERED A BLESSING. EDUCATION IS HIGHLY VALUED, WITH SIGNIFICANT
PROGRESS MADE IN IMPROVING ACCESS TO EDUCATION IN RECENT YEARS, ALTHOUGH DISPARITIES EXIST BETWEEN
URBAN AND RURAL AREAS. THE MALDIVES HAS A SMALL MIDDLE CLASS, WITH MANY PEOPLE ENGAGED IN TRADITIONAL
FISHING AND AGRICULTURE-BASED LIVELIHOODS. TOURISM HAS BECOME A MAJOR INDUSTRY, PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT
 OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME. HEALTHCARE IS PROVIDED THROUGH A COMBINATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FACILITIES,
BUT ACCESS CAN BE LIMITED IN RURAL AREAS DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE. WHILE SOCIAL INDICATORS SUCH AS EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE HAVE IMPROVED, CHALLENGES
REMAIN REGARDING POVERTY, INEQUALITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

POLITICAL
THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF THE MALDIVES IS A PRESIDENTIAL REPUBLIC. THE COUNTRY HAS A UNICAMERAL
PARLIAMENT, KNOWN AS THE PEOPLE'S MAJLIS, WITH 85 MEMBERS ELECTED THROUGH A POPULAR VOTE FOR A FIVE-
YEAR TERM. THE PRESIDENT OF THE MALDIVES IS BOTH THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT AND HEAD OF STATE, AND IS
ELECTED THROUGH A POPULAR VOTE FOR A FIVE-YEAR TERM. THE CURRENT PRESIDENT IS IBRAHIM MOHAMED
SOLIH, WHO WAS ELECTED IN 2018. THE MALDIVES ALSO HAS A JUDICIARY SYSTEM, WHICH INCLUDES THE SUPREME
COURT, HIGH COURT, AND MAGISTRATE COURTS. THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL HISTORY HAS BEEN MARKED BY
 PERIODS OF AUTHORITARIANISM AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS, WITH RECENT YEARS SEEING A SHIFT TOWARDS
GREATER POLITICAL FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTIONS. HOWEVER, CONCERNS REMAIN OVER ISSUES
SUCH AS CORRUPTION, FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY.

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
• GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH REGIONAL RELATIONS WITH THE WEST, RELIABLE SUPPORT
FROM MULTILATERAL
POWERS: CHINA AND INDIA • EXPANDING INSTITUTIONS
TOURISM POTENTIAL IN UNINHABITED
• EXTRAORDINARY DEPENDENCE ON TOURISM
ISLANDS • IMPROVING TRANSPORT
INFRASTRUCTURE • IMPROVING • GEOGRAPHICAL ISOLATION
• PRECARIOUS PUBLIC FINANCES (RISING SEA LEVEL)

• POLITICAL VOLATILITY • EXTRAORDINARY • LOW HUMAN CAPITAL LIMITS DIVERSIFICATION

POTENTIAL
EXPOSURE TO CLIMATE RISK

THE THINGS THAT CAN BE ADAPTED IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PRACTICES: MALDIVES IS KNOWN FOR ITS ECO-FRIENDLY AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
PRACTICES, SUCH AS USING RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, REDUCING WASTE, AND PRESERVING MARINE LIFE. THE
PHILIPPINES CAN LEARN FROM THESE PRACTICES AND IMPLEMENT THEM IN ITS OWN TOURISM INDUSTRY TO
PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND ATTRACT ECO-CONSCIOUS TRAVELERS.
 2. COASTAL PROTECTION MEASURES: MALDIVES IS A LOW-LYING COUNTRY THAT IS VULNERABLE TO SEA LEVEL
RISE AND COASTAL EROSION. THE MALDIVES GOVERNMENT HAS IMPLEMENTED VARIOUS MEASURES TO
PROTECT ITS
COASTLINE, SUCH AS BUILDING SEAWALLS, PLANTING MANGROVES, AND CONSTRUCTING BREAKWATERS. THE
PHILIPPINES CAN ADOPT SIMILAR MEASURES TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND PROTECT ITS OWN
COASTLINES.
3. TRADITIONAL FISHING METHODS: MALDIVES HAS A RICH FISHING CULTURE, AND TRADITIONAL FISHING
METHODS SUCH AS POLE-AND-LINE FISHING AND HANDLINE FISHING ARE STILL WIDELY PRACTICED. THESE
METHODS ARE
SUSTAINABLE AND DO NOT HARM MARINE LIFE, UNLIKE MODERN INDUSTRIAL FISHING METHODS THAT USE LARGE
NETS AND TRAWLERS. THE PHILIPPINES CAN LEARN FROM THESE TRADITIONAL METHODS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE
FISHING PRACTICES AND PRESERVE MARINE RESOURCES.
4. CULTURAL PRESERVATION: MALDIVES HAS A UNIQUE CULTURE THAT IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN ITS HISTORY AND
TRADITIONS. THE MALDIVES GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO PRESERVE ITS CULTURAL HERITAGE, SUCH AS
PROTECTING HISTORIC SITES, PROMOTING TRADITIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND TEACHING THE MALDIVIAN
LANGUAGE IN SCHOOLS. THE PHILIPPINES CAN ALSO PRIORITIZE CULTURAL PRESERVATION TO PROMOTE NATIONAL
IDENTITY AND PRIDE.
5. COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM: MALDIVES HAS SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED COMMUNITY-BASED
TOURISM INITIATIVES THAT INVOLVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY. THIS APPROACH
PROVIDES ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHILE PRESERVING THEIR CULTURE AND
TRADITIONS. THE PHILIPPINES CAN ADOPT SIMILAR COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND REDUCE POVERTY IN RURAL AREAS.
REFERENCES
• HTTPS://WWW.HOLIDIFY.COM/PAGES/CULTURE-OF-MALDIVES-1178.HTML
• HTTPS://WWW.SLIDESHARE.NET/PAMILA1/MALDIVES-50461168
• HTTPS://GLOBALEDGE.MSU.EDU/COUNTRIES/MALDIVES/RISK