Today, the Maldives is a democratic republic with President Mau moon Abdul Gayoom at the helm. There is no party political system in the Maldives: the citizens Majlis (parliament) comprises 48 members, two elected from each atoll and eight nominated by the President. The president himself is nominated by the citizens' Majlis and elected by public referendum for a renewable five year period; the president then appoints his own cabinet.

 Infos pratiques - Maldives

Climate
The Maldives has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round and many hours of sunshine. With an average temperature of 31°C and an average minimum temperature of 26°C there are only minor variations in daily temperature throughout the year.

The hottest month on average is April and the coolest December. February is the driest with December through Aril being considered generally to be the driest months. November through April being the peak season, reservations for stay must be made well in advance. From May to October the demand and costs for accommodation are comparatively lower. In June and July, the Maldives experiences regular showers with monsoons bringing in more short shower.

Language
The language of the Maldives is Dhivehi, an Indo-Aryan language with influences of Sinhala, Arabic, Hindi, and Bengali. It is written from right to left in Thaana, a script unique to the Maldives. Over the years however Dhivehi medium syllabuses have gradually made way to English medium teaching. English is therefore understood and widely used by the locals. In the resorts, a variety of languages are spoken by the staff including English, German, French, Italian and Japanese.

Health
Health care facilities are improving almost on a daily basis. The Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male is the biggest hospital in the country providing sophisticated medical care. ADK Hospital is the biggest private health care facility and follows high medical standards. Some resorts have in-house doctors. A decompression chamber is within easy reach of most resorts in case of a diving emergency.

Time Difference
+5 hrs GMT

Electricity Supply
The electric system is 220-240 Volts - the same as the UK. The plug sockets are usually 3-pin UK type sockets too.

Dress & Clothing
Dress is casual. Light cotton clothing is recommended, except on special occasions or for those that wish to dress elegantly when staying at luxury hotel, casual is the norm. Dress modesty when visiting inhabited islands out of respect. Nudism is prohibited.

Social Customs:
Handshaking is the most common form of greeting. Dress is informal. Light cotton clothes are recommended. Nudity is forbidden. Swimsuits and beachwear are to be confined to resort islands. When visiting an inhabited island or the capital, shorts and T-shirts for men, and blouse or T-shirts with skirts or shorts that cover the thighs, made of non-diaphanous material, for women, are minimum requirements. Maldivians traditionally eat with their fingers. It is also considered unhygienic to touch food with the left hand.

Customs Regulations:
It is prohibited by law to import the following items into the Maldives: Alcoholic beverages; pornographic literature or pictures; narcotics; firearms; idols of worship; pork or any porcine product; dangerous animals and exobiological material; dangerous chemicals; fog signals and fireworks; and spear/dart guns. With the government imposing a ban on the killing of turtles, export of tortoise shell and coral is forbidden.

Shopping:
Malé is the ideal place for shopping considering the choice of items available. With minimum duty on most of the items, prices in Malé have become competitive. Best buys include handicrafts like reed mats and lacquered wooden boxes, electronic items and souvenirs like coral rings and sea shells. Goods ranging from hi-fi stereo systems and cameras to watches and cosmetics can be purchased from well-stocked duty free shops at the Departure Terminal of Malé International Airport. In the capital, the STO Trade Centre with its many shops is one place where you can find a variety of items. Shops pull down their shutters for about 10 to 15 minutes, five times every day, for prayers.

Working Hours :
Banks : 8 am - 1.30 pm (Sun to Thu), Government Offices : 7.30 am - 2.30 pm (Sun to Thu), Fri and Sat holidays. Private Offices: Open between 8 am and 10 am and close between 6 pm and 8 pm, with a lunch break in between.

Shopping :
The capital Malé being the centre of commercial activity is the ideal place to shop. Shops open between 7.30 and 9.30 am, closing at 11 pm. On Fridays they open at 1.30 pm, closing as usual. All shops close for 15 minutes at every prayer time.

Entry :
No prior visa arrangements are required. A tourist visa of 30 days will be given to visitors with valid travel documents, on arrival. For those coming from yellow fever infected regions, an international certificate of inoculation is required.