Visit Maldives Corporation is boosting its GCC approach by enhancing links, promoting halal tourism and seeking investments. The agency aims to revive tourist numbers while sustaining sector expansion. Abdulla Yasir, the corporation’s chief executive and managing director, noted that the Middle-East continues to be vital for the Maldives, serving both as a visitor source and as a transit corridor for travelers.
The Maldives is focusing on two segments as part of its efforts to develop the Middle Eastern market: travelers originating in the region and international visitors using the Middle East as a transit corridor to the Maldives. Yasir said the country is continuing recovery efforts, with the aim of ending the year around last year’s visitor levels or slightly below them.
Developing the Middle Eastern Market
Visit Maldives participated in Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Dubai 2026 with its largest presentation at the event to date. The delegation included 165 Maldivian travel trade partners, who attended to promote the destination and strengthen relationships with tourism stakeholders from the Middle East. Yasir said Visit Maldives has particularly high expectations for the Saudi Arabian market, while continuing to develop opportunities throughout the wider GCC region.
Yasir noted that 2026 has been a challenging year for the Maldives due to the crisis in the Middle East. He identified March as a particularly difficult month. Despite the challenges, Visit Maldives is exploring new opportunities, including halal tourism as an additional segment within the country’s tourism offering.
Halal Tourism and Investment Initiatives
Work is underway to incorporate halal tourism into the national tourism strategy, including discussions about potentially allocating specific islands for the halal travel market. Yasir said properties interested in participating will also be considered as the market develops. The Maldives is also receiving investment inquiries from Emirati and other GCC-based businesses interested in opportunities in the country’s tourism sector.
According to Yasir, tourism is the number one industry that brings revenue to the Maldives. The country has numerous islands available for tourism development, with investment identified as a component of efforts to expand accommodation capacity and the wider tourism offering. Visit Maldives is engaging with regional airlines to strengthen and expand connections, including Oman Air, Emirates, Gulf Air, and Qatar Airways.
Increased Air Connectivity and Future Plans
Expanded airline links will support visitor arrivals from the region and the Maldives’ wider tourism growth plans. Yasir highlighted 2027 as Visit Maldives Year, describing it as a significant period for the destination. The campaign is expected to present the range of accommodation and tourism experiences available in the Maldives across different price segments.
Yasir said the Maldives has a lot to offer, and the country is looking forward to welcoming travelers from the GCC and other international markets. With its renewed focus on the Middle Eastern market and initiatives to develop halal tourism and increase air connectivity, Visit Maldives is poised to achieve its national target of 3 million tourist arrivals.