Travel Alert Status
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Safety and Security
Maldives held its first-ever multi-party democratic election in late 2008. On November 16, 2013 Abdulla Yameen was elected President in a run-off election. In recent months during the Presidential election, the capital city of Malé had recurrent protests. Political demonstrations and social unrest resulted in the police forcibly dispersing crowds. Protests were generally confined to the capital city and primarily occurred during the evenings. There were no reports of unrest or demonstrations on the resort islands or at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.
You should not engage in political activity in Maldives. You should exercise caution and avoid demonstrations and spontaneous gatherings. If you encounter demonstrations or large crowds, you should remain calm and depart the area quickly and avoid confrontation. While traveling in Maldives, you should refer to news sources, check the U.S. Embassy Colombo website for possible security updates and remain aware of your surroundings at all times.