The Maldives Independent is an award-winning Maldivian media outlet with a 20 year history of fearless independent journalism. Relaunched in Feb 2025, it is entirely owned and operated by its Maldivian staff, some of whom have been with the publication for well over a decade.
Active monthly readers: 110,000 (Apr 2026)
Social media reach: 1.7 million (Q1, 2026)
We publish feature articles, investigative journalism, a daily news roundup, timelines, a podcast and extensive social content. Our coverage spans everything from politics and corruption to climate change and fashion. Recently we’ve expanded to include a Dhivehi edition, weekly newsletter, local language word games (Fili) and a live air quality monitor.
Our History
Founded in 2004 as Minivan News and rebranded in 2015, the Maldives Independent was one of the first online news outlets founded in the early days of the country’s democracy movement. Over two decades it has become internationally recognised for its boundary-pushing journalism, and was awarded Index on Censorship’s Press Freedom Prize in 2017.
It was well known for its vibrant and occasionally fractious comments section, one of the Maldives’ first public forums for free expression. It retains one of the largest news archives of any online media in the country.
We have served as a vital training ground for local and foreign journalists, who have gone on to work with global media such as Al Jazeera, the BBC, Financial Times, Foreign Policy Magazine, Reuters and Himal Southasian. The publication has also faced significant tragedy, including the abduction and disappearance of journalist Ahmed Rilwan in 2014 and the assassination of contributor Yameen Rasheed in 2017. Despite a state investigation justice remains elusive, with the commission tasked with their cases dissolved in 2024.
Editorial Independence
We operate in a country with a legacy of political partisanship, repression and patronage - particularly in the media sector. The Maldives Independent prizes editorial independence, journalistic integrity and good practice. We strive to publish a range of voices in the opinion section, especially those of young people and other under-represented groups.
Have a story to tell? Send your opinion pitches to editorial@maldivesindependent.com.
Funding & Support
We believe media is most accountable when supported directly by its audience, not politicians or oligarchs. Our work is funded through:
Our Membership Program: Direct support from readers that keeps our newsroom 100% independent
Institutional Newsletters: High-level analysis for the diplomatic and business community
The Maldives Independent is also recognised and/or supported by an array of international media development organisations, including the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), International Press Institute (IPI) and Asian Dispatch.
If you believe in what we’re doing, becoming a member is the best way to support us and guarantee a future for independent journalism in the Maldives.