Shopping

Maldives offers a diverse shopping experience to entertain different tastes of styles and fashion of various travelers. Male', besides being the capital city of Maldives, is also the finest place for shopping if you are interested in buying imported merchandise. A large amount of the shops here, cater particularly to tourists and sell various local handicrafts and souvenirs.

Some duty free stores are situated at the Male' International Airport, which offer a variety of products such as cameras, electrical and electronic equipment, cosmetics, souvenirs, jewelry, liquor, cigarettes, perfumes, toys, chocolates and other commodities.

On the main road of Maldives is the ‘Majeedhee Magu' that stretches from east to west. Here there are shops selling merchandise ranging from clothes, jewelry, perfumes, handbags and cosmetics to electronic items. The stores are open till 11pm, closing only for 15 minutes for prayers during the day. The Chaandanee Magu, one of the most important commercial centers has stores selling a large number of imported products. Most of the souvenir shops lie towards the northern end of Chaandanee Magu. It was previously known as the Singapore Bazaar because the imported products came mainly from Singapore. Some of the best buys are the ‘thudu kuna', the Maldivian carpet woven with local natural fibers in stylish geometric designs. The wooden small ‘dhonis' are also famous. These two streets are famous for garments and they are mostly imported from Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Dubai. Apart from the region of Chandhanee Magu, Orchid Magu, Fareedhee Magu and Faamudheyri Magu are also well known for souvenir shopping. The stores here, offer imported as well as locally produced merchandise.

A number of shops in Male' offer canned fish, which is made at the canning plant in Felivaru, Lhaviyani Atoll. Several supermarkets around Male' also offer vacuum packed smoked fish and chipped dried fish. These authentic Maldivian products make excellent gift items.

The local market is situated a block away from the Male' Fish Market on the northern waterfront. In comparison to the rest of the locality, the atmosphere here is much more peaceful. This market is divided into stalls and every stall is full of an assortment of local produce mostly from the islets. You can buy local vegetables, sweetmeat, fruits and yams, nuts and breadfruit chips, home made sweets and pickles in this market. Traditional Maldivian handicraft such as carpet weaving, embroidery for customary clothes, coir making and lacquer work is generally limited to specific islets. The island Gadhdhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll is famous for its unmatched hand-woven carpets made of dried hau (rushes). Thulaadhoo in Baa Atoll is believed to be the best place for lacquer work. Wooden containers and vases of all shapes and sizes, exhibit stunning abstract patterns in red, black and yellow. Ribudhoo in Dhaalu Atoll is renowned for its goldsmiths whereas, Hulhudeli in the same Atoll is renowned for its silversmiths.

In almost all resorts in Maldives, you would find a store catering to in-house guests. You can obtain merchandise such as cosmetics, sun protection creams and lotions, tanning products, sarongs, shorts, and swimwear.

Several local islands in the tourism region have souvenir shops. Himmafushi, Maafushi, Huuraa, and Guraidhoo of Malé Atoll are some of them, well known for their souvenir stores. Rasdhoo, Mahibadhoo and Dhagethi in Ari Atoll are also equally famous for their souvenir collections.

Maldives is gradually becoming famous for ‘sea jewelry', such as coral, mother-of-pearl, black coral, seashell and turtle-shell. Owing to their endangered position and ecological considerations, sea turtle, black coral, pearl oyster shell and red coral goods are prohibited from being exported.