Practical guide

The Maldives, from Malé to Dhivehi and the rufiyaa

A first point of reference for locating the Maldives in South Asia and learning the basic facts to keep in mind when planning.

Indian Ocean island landscape as geographic context for the Maldives
Photo by Samee Shafeeg Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 3.0
The Maldives is an island nation in South Asia, with Malé as its capital. This guide brings together three key facts—location, language and currency—to give you a clear starting point for planning.
Visual context for Maldives Context video selected for this guide; it does not by itself identify every place mentioned. Video by Coverr-Free-Footage · Pixabay · Pixabay Content License · Duration: 00:12
01

An island nation in South Asia

The Maldives is in South Asia and has no mainland coastline: it is an island nation. The information available here places it in its regional context, but does not provide enough detail to recommend islands, transfers or an itinerary between them.
Urban view of Malé, capital of the Maldives
Photo by Regani Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 3.0
02

Malé, the capital

The capital is Malé. Keeping it in mind helps you locate the country on a map, but these facts are not enough to determine connections, travel times or the best base for a stay. Check current transport information for those details.”},{
03

Dhivehi and the Maldivian rufiyaa

The language listed is Dhivehi, also known as Maldivian, and the currency is the Maldivian rufiyaa, whose code is MVR. Check the latest information before travelling for payment methods, exchange rates and accepted forms of payment; this country profile does not confirm practical exchange or usage conditions.
04

A starting point, not a travel plan

These facts help identify the destination, but do not answer questions about access or logistics. Before finalising plans, consult current sources about connections between islands, entry requirements and payments. No schedules, fares or visiting conditions are provided here.
05

Key facts

Maldives: island nation in South Asia; capital: Malé; language: Dhivehi; currency: Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR). For details that can change—transport, entry and currency exchange—confirm the information with up-to-date official sources before you leave.
Sources and checks

References consulted during editorial review. Times, requirements and advisories may change: always confirm with the official source.

  1. Maldivas WikidataCC0 1.0 Wikidata · Q826
  2. Maldivas WikidataCC0 1.0 Wikidata · Q106546655
  3. Maldives World Countries — mledozeODbL 1.0 World countries dataset by mledoze and contributors · ODbL 1.0
  4. Maldives World Bank Open DataCC BY 4.0 World Bank
  5. Maldives DBpediaCC BY-SA 3.0 DBpedia