Dhiffushi rules: local island etiquette in the Maldives

The Maldives is a Muslim country. Resorts sit on their own islands under different rules, but Dhiffushi is someone’s home town. Nobody expects visitors to be perfect; people do notice the effort.

In the village

Cover your shoulders and knees whenever you’re away from the beach: in cafés, shops, on a village walk or at the jetty.

• Women: a T-shirt or loose top with sleeves, and a knee-length skirt, shorts or light trousers. A sarong or scarf in your bag is useful for covering up quickly.
• Men: a T-shirt and shorts are fine. Walking around shirtless is not.
• Everyone: no swimwear in the village, even with a towel round you.

On the bikini beach

Dhiffushi has designated tourist beaches, the North Bikini Beach and the South / Sunset Bikini Beach. On these, bikinis and ordinary swimwear are fine. Put a cover-up on before you head back into the village. Topless and nude sunbathing are not allowed anywhere in the Maldives, including resorts.

If you swim or snorkel from any other part of the island, the UK government’s travel advice says arms and upper legs should stay covered. A rash vest and board shorts or leggings work well.

There is no alcohol on Dhiffushi. It isn’t sold, and you can’t bring your own. The UK government’s travel advice warns that visitors can be arrested and deported for having or drinking alcohol, or being drunk, outside resorts.

At the airport

Don’t buy alcohol in duty free or on the plane. Velana International Airport warns that it will be confiscated when you arrive. Some travel sources say that alcohol you declare may be held and returned when you leave, while undeclared alcohol is not.

If you’d like a drink

Licensed resorts can serve alcohol, and some excursions include a resort stop; see resort day trips. Not every resort sells day visits, so check first. Come back sober and quiet.

You’ll hear the call to prayer five times a day from the Dhiffushi Mosque. All you need to do is keep the noise down nearby.

• On Fridays, shops, cafés and many services close around the midday prayer, roughly late morning to early afternoon.
• The public ferry doesn’t run on Fridays, so plan arrivals and departures around that. Our guide to getting to Dhiffushi has the options.
• Non-Muslims shouldn’t go into the mosque unless invited. Don’t walk in front of anyone praying.

Local people fast from dawn to sunset. Visitors needn’t fast, but shouldn’t eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight. Guesthouses still serve guests indoors, and the island comes alive after sunset. Ramadan is expected to fall around 8 February to 10 March 2027, depending on the moon. See Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr and our best time to visit guide.

Public displays of affection

Keep affection low-key in public. Kissing and cuddling in the village or on the beach will make people uncomfortable, so save it for your room.

Photographing people

Always ask before photographing someone, particularly women and children. If they say no, that’s the end of it.

Drones

The Maldives Civil Aviation Authority says that, depending on the area, you may need approval from the Maldives National Defence Force before applying to the authority for a permit (the defence permit is applied for through the government’s oneGov portal). You also need consent from other relevant parties, such as the island council, and must stay below 400 feet. Allow several weeks. No permit, no flying.

Maldives Customs lists these as completely banned from import:

• narcotics and psychotropic substances
• pornographic material, including sex toys
• religious materials offensive to Islam
• idols for worship
• live pigs

Velana International Airport lists pork products as restricted, needing a permit, so don’t pack them. The UK government’s travel advice also mentions bibles. Keep anything personal private and never bring materials to hand out; observing another religion in public is illegal.

Vapes and e-cigarettes are banned in the Maldives: they are taken from you on arrival and returned when you leave. Since November 2025, anyone born on or after 1 January 2007 may not buy or use tobacco, and this applies to visitors too. Spear guns need a permit.

The reef

• Don’t touch, stand on or kick coral. Watch your fins when snorkelling from the shore.
• Don’t touch or chase turtles, rays or sharks.
• Don’t take shells, coral or sand home. The UK government says it is illegal to take coral or tortoiseshell items out of the Maldives.

Litter and plastic

Small islands struggle with waste. Carry a refillable bottle, refuse plastic bags and straws, and take rubbish back to your guesthouse. The Maldives is phasing out a list of single-use plastics, including straws and plastic cutlery.

Under a Labour Relations Authority regulation, tourist guesthouses, hotels and resorts add a service charge of at least 10% for staff, so tipping on top is optional. A little extra for a great guide or boat crew is always appreciated. There’s a Bank of Maldives ATM centre on the island.

People are delighted when visitors try. These are commonly used forms; spellings vary.

The reply to *assalaamu alaikum* is *wa alaikum assalaam*.

Same-sex relations are illegal in the Maldives, and the UK government notes that convictions can bring a fine or a long prison sentence. The safest approach is discretion: no public affection, and care with what you post online while you’re here. If you ever feel unsafe, contact the police on 119.

Usually nothing dramatic. Wander into the village in swimwear and someone may politely ask you to cover up. Say sorry, put a shirt on, and that’s normally the end of it. Alcohol, drugs and drone flying are different: they’re legal matters, and penalties can include fines, arrest and deportation. Dhiffushi has a police post, and emergency numbers are on our Plan page.