Maldives Insight

MALE’ – [Current Date, e.g., 10 March 2024]

Adam Shareef Umar, the Minister of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works, has urged all relevant parties to uphold Islamic unity in the provision of services to tourists in the Maldives during the holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) today, the Minister emphasised the Maldives’ identity as a 100 per cent Muslim nation. He appealed for arrangements, particularly concerning dining services for visiting tourists, that preserve the Islamic traditions, religious solidarity, and the respect Maldivians hold for Islam.

Guidelines for Tourist Services

Minister Shareef specifically requested that dining services offered to tourists be arranged in a manner not visible to the general public. He further stressed that tourist behaviour should not compromise the sanctity of public spaces and streets within inhabited islands.

Additionally, the Minister called upon service providers to educate tourists on appropriate conduct when visiting inhabited islands throughout the Ramadan period.

Call for Oversight

The Ministry’s statement reinforced these directives, noting: “Therefore, during the blessed month of Ramadan, all parties providing services to tourists in the inhabited islands of the Maldives are urged to pay special attention to the aforementioned matters, and councils are urged to oversee these matters.”