The Maldives will not face fuel shortages as a result of the Middle East conflict, despite international oil prices rising 25 to 30 percent, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed told the press, echoing assurances from President Muizzu and referring to both petroleum and LPG supplies. The government is working to increase fuel storage capacity and explore alternative supply routes to accommodate a growing population of residents and tourists, he said.
Tourist arrivals plummeted after the cancellation of flights due to the closure of airspaces in the Middle East. A total of 4,107 tourist arrivals were recorded on March 2, down from 8,128 on the same day last year. Arrivals on March 1 were also down from 8,447 to 6,440. Between 30 to 35 percent of tourists travel to the Maldives via transit hubs in the Gulf. Europeans accounted for more than half of arrivals during the first two months of 2026.
The Baa Fulhadhoo island council announced an MVR 750 (US$ 48) fine for tourists staying in guesthouses who are found dressed inappropriately in public areas. The council said it had received repeated complaints and had previously attempted to resolve the issue through other measures. The fine takes effect immediately.
The Food and Drug Authority is investigating whether pesticide use on farms in Baa Goidhoo is linked to high rates of cancer on the island, Agriculture Minister Dr Mariyam Mariya said at a press briefing. The study follows a letter from a resident to the health minister raising concerns about unsafe pesticide use, noting that 95 percent of the island's farmland is worked by foreign labourers. A pesticides law exists but no implementing policy has been drafted, she said, adding that one is expected soon. Nine people on the island have been diagnosed with cancer in the past five years and three have died. IGMH oncologist Dr Mohamed Amru told Sun in December that the rate was three times the national average for a population of around 500 and showed a "concerning pattern" that warranted further investigation.
Government revenue rose to MVR 7.8 billion in the first two months of 2026, up 29 percent from the previous year, according to the finance ministry's first weekly fiscal report of the year. Spending held steady at MVR 5.9 billion, producing a surplus of MVR 1.9 billion compared to MVR 98 million in the same period last year. Tourism goods and services tax drove much of the increase, up 39 percent to MVR 2.3 billion. The ministry attributed the delayed publication to changes in the public accounting system, including a new mechanism for judiciary grants and a separate ledger for the zakat fund.
A total of 352 cats have been taken to the government's "Olhuhiyaa" cat shelter in Hulhumalé, Animal Welfare Minister Dr Mariyam Mariya said. Veterinary services have begun at the facility, with 60 cats neutered and five spayed so far. More cats will be transferred in the coming week. She previously told parliament the facility costs MVR 10 million a year to run.
