Maldives

The Maldives is an archipelago of islands dispersed over 90,000 square kilometres in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It is known worldwide for its luxury resorts and white sandy beaches with crystal clear lagoons and is considered paradise on Earth. There are over a thousand coral islands, both large and small, grouped together in the form of atolls. In total there are 26 atolls stretching a vast 700km from North-South, of which a total of 200 are inhabited islands and over 120 islands have been developed as resorts. 

Capital: The capital, Malé City has the largest by population Malé City. Also known as the “King’s Island” it was once home to the ancient royal dynasties . It is within close proximity to Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, which is the main airport of the Maldives. The whole island group, the Maldives, is named after its capital. The word "Maldives" means "The islands (dives) of Malé”. 

Culture: Maldives is a Muslim-majority country, thus taking Arab influence in the language and culture. A major cultural similarity can be observed between the Maldives and its closest neighbour, Sri Lanka. It is believed that one of the earliest settlers in the Maldives were in-fact from Sri Lanka.

Economy: The Maldivian economy thrives on tourism. Annually visited by over 1 million tourists worldwide, it is the largest economic industry in the Maldives. The other main industry is fisheries. The famous yellow fin tuna is a major export for the Maldives, with a variety of different products made of tuna being exported all over the world.