Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and India’s Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu jointly inaugurated the Hanimaadhoo International Airport, a project completed with India’s financial assistance.

In his address at the inauguration ceremony on Sunday (November 10, 2025), Mr. Muizzu described the airport as a “catalyst for unlocking the potential of the northern Maldives and enhancing global connectivity”, according to a statement by the President’s Office.

Calling it a “gateway to prosperity” for the north, he said, “This is not just an airport, it is a symbol of economic transformation.” Mr. Muizzu said that the newly opened airport would bring further advancement to tourism, agriculture, fisheries, and the economy, as well as social development to the north, the Sun.mv news portal reported.

Mr. Muizzu said the airport serves as a monument that testifies to the strength of Maldives-India ties as the countries mark 60 years of diplomatic relations this year, news portal Edition.mv reported.

In an X post, the Indian High Commission in the Maldives called the airport a “true vehicle for progress and prosperity, and a symbol of India’s commitment under Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR vision”.

The airport’s development is funded by a $800 million line of credit issued by EXIM Bank, India, under an agreement executed between the Maldivian government and the bank in 2019, the Sun.mv news portal reported.

The development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport was contracted to India’s JMC Projects for $ 136.6 million, it said, adding that the airport will help improve tourism in northern atolls.

Meanwhile, main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party chief Abdulla Shahid, who served as the Foreign Minister in the last MDP administration, thanked former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, whose administration initiated the project, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government and people of India for their generous assistance.

Mr. Shahid noted that President Muizzu and his colleagues, while in opposition, had criticised the project, even labelling it as an “Indian military initiative”.

“Construction workers were falsely called Indian soldiers, fuelling a dangerous nationalist narrative. Every Indian supported project was politicised to inflame anti-India sentiment, turning international cooperation into a political weapon,” he stressed.

“Yet, in a striking twist of fate, President Muizzu has now inaugurated the very project his campaign once vilified – a project made possible by the same partners his government sought to demonise,” he added.

Originally built 39 years ago, Hanimaadhoo Airport previously accommodated only smaller aircraft such as ATRs and Dash-8s, Sun.mv news reported. The new airport will support operations for Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft and can handle 1.3 million passengers annually.

Mr. Naidu also met Maldives’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdulla Khaleel here, with both reaffirming commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

During the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Khaleel expressed gratitude for the continued support extended to the Maldives by India.

“Both ministers reiterated their commitment to the partnership between India and the Maldives, and discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation, enhance connectivity, and advance mutually beneficial development initiatives,” state-run Public Service Media (PSM News) said.

The Indian High Commission in a post on X described it as “fruitful discussions.”

Published – November 10, 2025 10:37 am IST

Watch: Highs and lows in neighbourhood ties: Is Delhi softening tone?

Is New Delhi making a subtle strategic outreach to its south Asian neighbourhood this season? Bhutan’s King, Sri Lanka and Maldives’ presidents, Nepal’s Foreign Minister received warm welcomes in Delhi.

As the Foreign Secretary travels to Dhaka, weeks after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad, how will 2025 treat subcontinental ties, and how big will the China factor be?

Presentation: Suhasini Haidar

Editing: Kanishkaa Balachandran, Sabika Syed

New Delhi:

The inauguration of a new runaway in the Maldives built under an airport redevelopment project assisted by India and the official launch of the RuPay card in the island nation on Monday are aimed at boosting economic ties and tourism cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian Mohamed Muizzu jointly virtually inaugurated the runway at the Hanimadhoo International Airport and also witnessed via weblink a live transaction using a RuPay payment service card in the Maldives.

The launch took place after the two leaders held extensive talks which Muizzu in his press statement said were to “chart a new path for the future”.

The Maldivian president accompanied by First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed and a Maldivian delegation arrived in India on Sunday evening.

Though the Maldivian president attended PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in June, it is his first bilateral visit to India.

Prior to the launch of different India-assisted projects in the Maldives, a small official video was played in which details about these projects were shared in the presence of the two leaders at the Hyderabad House.

“The bonds between India and Maldives stretch back centuries, woven together through rich trade and cultural exchanges,” it was narrated in the video.

Over the years, this relationship has evolved, characterised by “mutual respect and unwavering support”, underpinned by India’s Neighbourhood First policy and SAGAR vision, it said.

India has always been the first responder in the Maldives during times of crisis.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Mohamed Muizzu, this relationship is to achieve greater heights,” it added.

The RuPay card launch today will pave the way for strengthened India-Maldives relations by boosting tourism and economic cooperation, according to the India-Maldives video.

“It will allow Indian tourists to make cashless transactions easily, reducing cost and enhancing convenience, especially in the Maldives tourism sector,” it said.

The inauguration of the new runaway at Hanimadhoo International Airport marks a “significant milestone in the airport’s ongoing expansion project”.

Its redevelopment, under an “Indian Line of Credit of USD 132 million”, aims to provide complete new infrastructure including runaway, ATC tower, ARFF block, hangar, cargo facilities, and passenger terminal building, it added.

Prime Minister Modi in his press statement after the bilateral talks said President Muizzu’s visit adds “another chapter to our ties”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The inauguration of a new runaway in the Maldives built under an airport redevelopment project assisted by India and the official launch of the RuPay card in the island nation on Monday are aimed at boosting economic ties and tourism cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian Mohamed Muizzu jointly virtually inaugurated the runway at the Hanimadhoo International Airport and also witnessed via weblink a live transaction using a RuPay payment service card in the Maldives.

The launch took place after the two leaders held extensive talks which Muizzu in his press statement said were to “chart a new path for the future”.

The Maldivian president accompanied by First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed and a Maldivian delegation arrived in India on Sunday evening.

Though the Maldivian president attended PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in June, it is his first bilateral visit to India.

Prior to the launch of different India-assisted projects in the Maldives, a small official video was played in which details about these projects were shared in the presence of the two leaders at the Hyderabad House.

“The bonds between India and Maldives stretch back centuries, woven together through rich trade and cultural exchanges,” it was narrated in the video.

Over the years, this relationship has evolved, characterised by “mutual respect and unwavering support”, underpinned by India’s Neighbourhood First policy and SAGAR vision, it said.

India has always been the first responder in the Maldives during times of crisis.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Mohamed Muizzu, this relationship is to achieve greater heights,” it added.

The RuPay card launch today will pave the way for strengthened India-Maldives relations by boosting tourism and economic cooperation, according to the India-Maldives video.

“It will allow Indian tourists to make cashless transactions easily, reducing cost and enhancing convenience, especially in the Maldives tourism sector,” it said.

The inauguration of the new runaway at Hanimadhoo International Airport marks a “significant milestone in the airport’s ongoing expansion project”.

Its redevelopment, under an “Indian Line of Credit of USD 132 million”, aims to provide complete new infrastructure including runaway, ATC tower, ARFF block, hangar, cargo facilities, and passenger terminal building, it added.

Prime Minister Modi in his press statement after the bilateral talks said President Muizzu’s visit adds “another chapter to our ties”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Travel tech platform EaseMyTrip – which suspended flight bookings to Maldives in January after a diplomatic row with India – on Friday said it has resumed bookings to the island nation after “improved bilateral ties” between both governments.

In June, EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti responded to the controversy around the resumption of flight bookings to Maldives through the platform, admitting that “some bookings did occur” between May 16-26 but the company acted swiftly and removed them.

The response came after Kerala Congress questioned EaseMyTrip on social media platform X, highlighting the company’s earlier decision to remove Maldives from its platform as a show of support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a statement on Friday, EaseMyTrip co-founder and CEO Pitti said, “Basis positive developments in mending India-Maldives bilateral ties, by both governments, we are resuming bookings to the Maldives. This decision comes after careful consideration and follows a constructive dialogue with the Ministry of Tourism of Maldives delegation during their recent visit to India and our office”.

“Being a nation-first company we are always in alignment with our government and support their vision. It is a progressive step towards the renewed friendship and mutual goals of enhancing tourism.” 

EaseMyTrip had initially halted bookings to Maldives in January after three Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments about Prime Minister Modi following his visit to Lakshadweep.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Travel tech platform EaseMyTrip – which suspended flight bookings to Maldives in January after a diplomatic row with India – on Friday said it has resumed bookings to the island nation after “improved bilateral ties” between both governments.

In June, EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti responded to the controversy around the resumption of flight bookings to Maldives through the platform, admitting that “some bookings did occur” between May 16-26 but the company acted swiftly and removed them.

The response came after Kerala Congress questioned EaseMyTrip on social media platform X, highlighting the company’s earlier decision to remove Maldives from its platform as a show of support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a statement on Friday, EaseMyTrip co-founder and CEO Pitti said, “Basis positive developments in mending India-Maldives bilateral ties, by both governments, we are resuming bookings to the Maldives. This decision comes after careful consideration and follows a constructive dialogue with the Ministry of Tourism of Maldives delegation during their recent visit to India and our office”.

“Being a nation-first company we are always in alignment with our government and support their vision. It is a progressive step towards the renewed friendship and mutual goals of enhancing tourism.” 

EaseMyTrip had initially halted bookings to Maldives in January after three Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments about Prime Minister Modi following his visit to Lakshadweep.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

President of Maldivian Democratic Party Abdulla Shahid. File
| Photo Credit: AP

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has welcomed President Mohammad Muizzu-led government’s “sudden recalibration” of its India policy and said Male has always been confident that India will always be the first responder any time the Maldives “dials an international 911″.

Abdulla Shahid, president of the main Opposition party, the MDP, made the remarks after he met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Male on Saturday (August 10, 2024).

The MDP president said that his party “calls on the Muizzu government to issue a public apology for the actions, lies and irresponsible comments from its officials which have resulted in significant damage to the Maldives’ foreign and economic outlook”. Mr. Jaishankar is on a three-day official visit to the Maldives to reset the bilateral relationship, the first high-level trip from India after the archipelago nation’s pro-China President Muizzu assumed office last year.

“Great pleasure to warmly welcome and meet Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar to the Maldives with my colleagues from @MDPSecretariat,” Mr. Shahid, the former foreign minister, said in a statement posted on X late Saturday (August 10, 2024) night.

“The Maldives has always been confident that India will always be the first responder any time the Maldives ‘dials an international 911’,” he said.

He said the “current government’s initial stoking of anti-India sentiments through aggressive slogans, mockery and the branding of a time-tested friend and development partner as a regional bully, has caused a decline in the Maldives’ international standing, economic loss, and many other unnecessary difficulties, and challenges.” “With this in mind, the MDP welcomes the sudden recalibration of the Maldives-India policy of President Muizzu’s government, from its previous India Out policy,” Mr. Shahid said.

India’s relationship with the Maldives has come under severe strain since Mr. Muizzu took charge as the President late last year.

Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms gifted by India to the Maldives. After talks between the two countries, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians.

On Saturday (August 10, 2024), Mr. Muizzu described India as “one of the closest allies” and reaffirmed his administration’s full commitment to strengthening the historic and close connections between the two countries.

“The MDP hopes that this shift will not be temporary or superficial, but consistent and meaningful in the best interests of the people of the Maldives,” Mr. Shahid said.

In a separate statement, the MDP welcomed Mr. Jaishankar’s visit to the Maldives.

“The Maldives-India relationship has always been based on the principles of mutual respect, respect for international law, territorial integrity, a common desire for regional security, and an open and peaceful Indian Ocean,” it said.

The MDP thanked India for its steadfast support of the people of the Maldives.

“The MDP welcomes the exchange of notes during this visit, to train a further 1000 civil service officers – a key human resource programme initiated during (former) President (Ibrahim Mohamed) Solih’s government.”

“The MDP also welcomes the signing of the MoU between the Ministry of Economic Development and the National Payments Corporation of India [NPCI], on enhancing and expanding digital and integrated payment systems – another MoU that was discussed and finalised during President Solih’s administration,” it said.

“The MDP welcomes with gratitude to India, the inauguration and handover of six High Impact Community Development Projects, implemented with grant assistance from the Government of India, and signed and implemented during President Solih’s administration,” the statement said.

It said the High Impact Community Development Project scheme is a highly successful and beneficial grant assistance scheme initialised in 2019.

“The Party further welcomes the handover of water and sewerage projects in 28 islands financed through the EXIM Bank of India,” the statement said.

It said these projects were undertaken through the ₹800 million Line of Credit extended by the Government of India, during the first state visit of former President Mr. Solih to India, in December 2018, and inaugurated during his administration.

The Maldives is one of India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties, including in the areas of defence and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government led by Mr. Solih.

Male:

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zammer on Friday to discuss all areas of bilateral cooperation to deepen the partnership between India and the archipelagic nation.

Mr Jaishankar arrived in Male on a three-day official visit to reset the bilateral relationship with the Maldives, the first high-level trip from India after the country’s pro-China president Mohamed Muizzu assumed office last year.

Upon his arrival, Mr Jaishankar said the Maldives occupies an important place in India’s vision of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and that he was looking forward to “fruitful engagements” with the leadership of the Maldives.

Soon after landing at the Velana International Airport, where Foreign Minister Zameer greeted him, Mr Jaishankar visited the Maldives’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“We will be continuing our discussions on all areas of our bilateral cooperation, reinforcing our shared commitment to deepening our partnership,” Mr Zameer said in a post on X soon after the meeting.

“We are committed to strengthening the existing cooperation and friendship between our two countries,” he added along with posting some photos of the meeting.

Mr Jaishankar’s three-day visit till August 11, at the invitation of his counterpart, comes weeks after President Muizzu’s visit to India in June to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office in November 2023.

Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country. Subsequently, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians by May 10, the mutually agreed date.

This is the first official visit of Mr Jaishankar to the Maldives since assuming office for a second term in June 2024. His previous visit was in January 2023.

Mr Jaishankar is also expected to pay a courtesy call to President Muizzu.

Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbour and an important partner in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and our Vision ‘SAGAR’, that is, Security and Growth for All in the Region. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Male:

The Indian Ocean nation of the Maldives will ban Israelis from the luxury tourist hot spot, the office of the president said Sunday, announcing a national rally in “solidarity with Palestine”.

The Maldives, a tiny Islamic republic of more than 1,000 strategically located coral islets, is known for its secluded sandy white beaches, shallow turquoise lagoons and Robinson Crusoe-style getaways. 

President Mohamed Muizzu has “resolved to impose a ban on Israeli passports,” a spokesman for his office said in a statement, without giving details of when the new law would take effect.

Muizzu also announced a national fundraising campaign called “Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine”.

The Maldives had lifted a previous ban on Israeli tourists in the early 1990s and moved to restore relations in 2010.

However, normalisation attempts were scuttled following the toppling of president Mohamed Nasheed in February 2012.

Opposition parties and government allies in the Maldives have been putting pressure on Muizzu to ban Israelis, as a sign of protest against the Gaza war.

Official data showed the number of Israelis visiting the Maldives dropped to 528 in the first four months of this year, down 88 percent compared to the corresponding period last year.

In response to the ban, an Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman urged citizens to avoid travel to the Maldives.

“For Israeli citizens staying in the country, it is recommended to consider leaving, since if they fall into distress for any reason, it will be difficult for us to help,” the spokesman added.

The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,189 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Hamas also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,439 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The IMF urged the Maldives to urgently raise revenue, cut spending and reduce external borrowing to avoid a major economic crisis. File
| Photo Credit: AP

The International Monetary Fund warned the Maldives against looming “debt distress” on Monday, as the small but strategically placed luxury tourist destination looks set to borrow more from main creditor China.

Since winning office last year, President Mohamed Muizzu has reoriented the atoll nation — known for its upmarket beach resorts and celebrity vacationers — away from traditional benefactor India and towards Beijing.

Last month his party won parliamentary elections in a landslide after promising to build thousands of apartments, reclaim more land for urban development and upgrade airports, all with Chinese funding.

Without naming the archipelago’s main lender, the IMF said the Maldives remained “at high risk of external and overall debt distress” without “significant policy changes”.

“Uncertainty surrounding the outlook is high and risks are tilted to the downside, including from delayed fiscal consolidation and weaker growth in key sources markets for tourism,” the IMF said in a statement.

It urged the Maldives to urgently raise revenue, cut spending and reduce external borrowing to avoid a major economic crisis.

The Maldives is a small nation of 1,192 tiny coral islets scattered 800 km across the equator, but it strategically straddles key east-west international shipping routes.

Tourism is a crucial source of foreign exchange for the country, home to white sandy beaches and secluded resorts offering Robinson Crusoe-style holidays.

China has pledged more funding since last year’s victory by Mr. Muizzu, who thanked the country for its “selfless assistance” for development funds on a state visit to Beijing shortly after he took power.

Official data showed the Maldives’ foreign debt reaching $4.038 billion last year, about 118% of gross domestic product and up nearly $250 million from 2022.

As of June 2023, the Export-Import Bank of China owned 25.2 percent of the Maldives’ external debt and was the country’s biggest single lender, Maldives finance ministry figures showed.

Debt-burdened neighbour Sri Lanka defaulted on its foreign debt in 2022 after a foreign exchange crisis that brought months of food and fuel shortages.

More than 50% of Sri Lanka’s bilateral debt is owed to China and the island nation is still struggling to restructure its borrowings with IMF assistance.

Unable to service a huge Chinese loan to build a port in the south, Sri Lanka allowed a Chinese state company to take over the facility on a 99-year lease in 2017.

The deal raised fears about Beijing’s use of “debt traps” in exerting its influence abroad, including in the Indian Ocean.