Is the Maldives safe? Health and safety for travellers

We checked three governments’ advice on 14 October 2026. In short:

• UK (FCDO): it does not advise against travel to any part of the Maldives. Its page was last updated on 12 August 2026, with the latest change about swimming safety. It mentions some gang-related crime in Malé and Hulhumalé and notes that terrorism can’t be ruled out.
• US (State Department): Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, mainly because of the risk of terrorism. This is the advice issued on 7 October 2025; check travel.state.gov for any update before you go.
• Australia (Smartraveller): “Exercise a high degree of caution”, citing the risk of terrorism and civil unrest. It describes resort islands as generally peaceful, and it advises avoiding protests in greater Malé and on inhabited islands.

Advice can change quickly, so read your own government’s page before you go and sign up for its alerts.

Petty theft

On local islands and resorts, crime is low, but petty theft does happen. Treat your things as you would anywhere:

• Don’t leave phones, cameras or cash unattended on the beach.
• Lock your room and use the safe if there is one.
• In Malé and Hulhumalé, avoid empty streets on foot late at night, as the UK advice suggests.

Unlicensed operators

Most problems visitors report come from informal bookings: a stranger on the jetty offering a cheap trip, a boat with no safety kit, or a “deal” that turns out to cost more. The simple fix is to book through your licensed guesthouse. Guesthouses arrange speedboat transfers, snorkel trips and excursions with operators they know, and can tell you if the weather makes a trip unwise.

Currents

Water moves fast through the channels between islands and at the edge of the reef. Currents have pulled swimmers away from shore and caused drownings, and the UK updated its advice on this in August 2026.

• Swim on the island’s beaches and in areas the locals or your guesthouse say are safe.
• Never swim alone off harbours, jetties or the reef edge. Boats come and go, and currents are often strongest there.
• If you are caught in a current, don’t fight it head-on. Stay calm, float, and swim across it, parallel to the shore.
• Snorkel with a buddy and tell someone where you are going. Our snorkelling guide has more on reading the reef.

Boats and life jackets

Speedboats are how most people get around, so boat safety matters.

• In 2021 the Maldives changed its marine safety rules, as reported in national news. Passengers on small boats, those nine metres long or less, must now wear a life jacket while travelling. The captain is responsible for making sure they do. The same applies on boats of any size in an area under a weather alert.
• Small boats are also barred from carrying passengers during more serious weather alerts.
• Listen to the safety briefing and put the life jacket on. If a small boat has none, don’t get on.

Weather alerts

The Maldives Meteorological Service issues weather alerts, mainly during the wet southwest monsoon (mid-May to November). When an alert is out, trips may be cancelled and transfers delayed. Build a spare day into your plans before an international flight. See best time to visit the Maldives for the seasons.

It is hot all year, with air temperatures around 30–31°C, and the sun near the equator is strong even when it’s cloudy.

• Use a high-factor, reef-safe sunscreen and reapply after swimming.
• A long-sleeved rash vest protects your back while snorkelling, which is where most people burn.
• Drink water often, wear a hat, and rest in the shade around midday.
• Our packing list covers light, modest clothing.

Drinking water

Much of the drinking water in the Maldives comes from desalination plants and collected rainwater. Travel health advice generally suggests drinking bottled or treated water and being careful with ice. Bottled water is sold on every inhabited island, and many guesthouses provide drinking water. A refillable bottle, filled from a treated supply, cuts down on plastic.

Dengue fever

Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes. The Maldives’ Health Protection Agency (HPA) reports cases every month and warns that they tend to rise in the wetter months. In 2026 it reported several hundred cases a month in the April to June period. The World Health Organization’s main advice is to avoid being bitten.

• Use an insect repellent, especially at dawn and dusk.
• Wear light clothes with long sleeves in the evening.
• If you develop a sudden high fever, severe headache or joint pain, see a doctor and mention dengue.

Medical care

• Local islands: many inhabited islands have a government health centre that can treat minor problems and stabilise more serious ones.
• Malé: Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), the main state hospital, and private hospitals in Malé and Hulhumalé offer the widest range of care. The UK advice notes that these are the only fully equipped hospitals in the country.
• Evacuation: serious cases are moved to Malé by speedboat or, from further atolls, by seaplane or air ambulance. From remote islands this can take hours.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Choose a policy that covers medical treatment and evacuation, and diving if you plan to dive. Our diving guide explains what to check.

The UK government’s travel advice lists these numbers for the Maldives:

In November 2024 the Maldives also launched 911 as a single national emergency number. It is run by the Maldives Police Service and connects you to police, ambulance, coastguard, and fire and rescue, as reported in national news. Save these numbers in your phone before you travel, along with your guesthouse’s number.

The Maldives is a Muslim country with strict laws. Breaking them can lead to arrest, a fine or deportation.

• Alcohol: alcohol is only legal on resorts, the airport hotel island and liveaboards. Having or drinking it on an inhabited island, or taking it off a resort, can lead to arrest. Customs holds any alcohol you bring into the country, including duty-free.
• Drugs: the Maldives has a zero-tolerance policy. The UK advice says penalties include long prison sentences and, for the most serious offences, the death penalty, even for small amounts of cannabis.
• Public behaviour: cover shoulders and knees away from bikini beaches. Nudity and topless sunbathing are banned everywhere. Keep displays of affection low-key in public. Publicly practising a religion other than Islam is not allowed.
• Ramadan: don’t eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours on local islands. See visiting during Ramadan.
• Souvenirs: taking coral or turtle-shell items out of the country is illegal.
• Drones: drones need permission and come with rules on where you can fly. Read our SIM card and practical tips guide before packing one.

For everyday manners, our local island etiquette guide explains what is expected.

Many women travel alone to local islands and find them relaxed and welcoming. Sensible steps help:

• Dress modestly away from the bikini beach. This avoids unwanted attention as well as giving offence.
• Book trips through your guesthouse rather than with strangers.
• Avoid unlit, empty areas late at night, especially in Malé.

Our guide to solo travel for women covers this in more depth.

According to the UK government’s travel advice, same-sex sexual relations are illegal in the Maldives, and a conviction could bring a fine or a lengthy prison sentence. Check your own government’s advice before you travel.

On Dhiffushi, in Kaafu Atoll about 37 km north-east of Malé, a Maldives Police Service post opened in December 2024. As reported by national news, it was the last inhabited island in Kaafu Atoll to get its own police service. For guests, it means police help is on the island itself, and your guesthouse can tell you which beaches are safe for swimming. Read how to get to Dhiffushi or start with our Maldives travel guide.