Author

Ahmed Naish

Ahmed Naish joined the Maldives Independent (formerly Minivan News) as a rookie reporter in January 2009, covering the country's tumultuous transition to democracy, first multi-party elections and series of political crises. He later served as editor-in-chief until the Maldives Independent suspended operations in January 2020 and returned to the role for the relaunch in January 2025. Naish has also written for local and international publications such as Al Jazeera and The Diplomat. 

1015 articles
Artwork: Dosain

No new cases, no victims identified but Maldives escapes human trafficking downgrade

Immigration officials named in a bribery verdict remain in their jobs.

15 Oct, 15:18

Artwork: Dosain

Residents, not guests: Ayla, Henley and the Pearl visa

As Rasmalé draws the outrage, a foreign township rises unnoticed in Noonu.

14 Oct, 15:44

Artwork: Dosain

The Nobel Laureate who shook the Maldives in 2011

Navi Pillay's advice and what became of it.

13 Oct, 14:09

Artwork: Dosain

Foreign money, not foreign neighbours: Rasmalé and the politics of land

When does a 99-year lease become a sale?

01 Oct, 18:28

Artwork: Dosain

A revolt from Europe to Moscow as Maldives taxes the world's travel agents

An Italian operator has dropped the Maldives in protest.

30 Sep, 15:58

Artwork: Dosain

'Not an inch sold': the Eagle Hills deal and the foreign ownership question

UAE developer says every resale or inheritance restarts a 99-year lease.

23 Sep, 19:57

Artwork: Dosain

Gone in 60 seconds: the falling rate and the rationing bank

What the 7am scramble for dollars says about the shortage.

16 Sep, 16:05

Artwork: Dosain

The Maldives is taxing the world's travel agents. What the new T-GST law does

The World Bank said this would not work.

09 Sep, 21:12

Artwork: Dosain

No law, no means: Maldives may be unable to police flow of restricted goods to Russia

Russian embassy says only UN sanctions are legitimate.

07 Sep, 17:58

Artwork: Dosain

'Daily budget for this website reached': nowhere left to buy a dollar

What your card declining has to do with resorts.

01 Sep, 18:40

Artwork: Dosain

The state blames resorts, resorts blame the state and the peg cannot hold

Proposed doubling of mandatory conversion prompts rare industry revolt.

25 Aug, 19:30

Artwork: Dosain

Fine the rate or float it? The band the market left in 2011

The dollar's two prices and a new offence for spreading the second.

20 Aug, 19:33

Artwork: Dosain

Debt, trade and the bridge: India's envoy on exceptions New Delhi makes for Maldives

'We did it only for Maldives as a special case.'

13 Aug, 18:17

Nine resignations later, Pension Office confirms MVR2.4 billion bond deal

Nine resignations later, Pension Office confirms MVR2.4 billion bond deal

Board members resigned rather than approve it. The money moved anyway.

29 Jul, 17:27

Artwork: Dosain

A job offer, a contested resignation and a seven-year fight with Transparency Maldives

A court ordered the money set aside after the NGO failed to pay.

23 Jul, 17:12

Artwork: Dosain

El Niño is here: what it means for Maldivian reefs

A guide to the timeline, the record and the hardened forecast.

21 Jul, 18:05

Artwork: Dosain

Suicide attempts triple in police records

Police logged 100 attempted suicides in May, up from 27 in March.

16 Jul, 16:35

Artwork: Dosain

Who broke the Rufiyaa? Two records and a blame game

BML has never sold more dollars, the street has never charged more.

14 Jul, 20:02

Artwork: Dosain

“Killing without touching”: the fight over Villimalé’s grove

The mayor said no trees would be felled. RCC’s sign warns of deep excavation.

13 Jul, 17:45

Artwork: Dosain

Measles cases rise sixfold in three weeks as Maldives outbreak accelerates

It is spreading among adults who never completed a second dose.

09 Jul, 17:15

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