Malé ferry terminals and jetties: where boats leave from

Malé is a small, crowded island ringed by sea walls, harbours and jetties. Most boats in the central Maldives start or end here or at the airport island next door, Hulhulé, from commuter ferries to cargo dhonis.

Three things make it harder than it looks:

• Names overlap. Terminals are often named after where the boats go, so a terminal in Malé may carry another island’s name.
• Several operators share space. Ferry terminals, port harbours and public jetties are run by different bodies.
• Things move. Malé’s northern waterfront road, Boduthakurufaanu Magu, has been rebuilt in phases, and ferries have been shifted to other berths while work goes on.

The good news: Malé is small, so a wrong jetty usually means a short walk or taxi ride, not a missed boat, if you leave enough time.

• MTCC (Maldives Transport and Contracting Company), state-owned, runs the public ferry network and the main ferry terminals in Malé and Hulhumalé. Its newer services carry the RTL (Raajje Transport Link) brand.
• Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), also state-owned, runs Malé’s harbours, including the North Harbour by the market.
• Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) runs Velana International Airport, including the ferry counter and boat jetties outside arrivals.

For the ferries themselves, see our guide to public ferries in the Maldives.

The north-east ferry terminal (Henveiru)

On Malé’s north-east waterfront, in the Henveiru district, MTCC runs the terminal that historically served the Malé to Hulhumalé ferry. You will see it labelled on some maps as the “Hulhumalé Ferry Terminal” even though it is in Malé, which catches many visitors out.

After the Sinamalé Bridge opened in 2018, fewer people took the ferry to Hulhumalé. In March 2025, MTCC opened the terminal to speedboat ferries from the atolls, with space for five boats at once, toilets and a waiting area (as reported by Atoll Times and MMTV).

In March 2026, atoll ferries that used Henveiru were moved to the Villimalé (Maafannu) terminal and the Hulhumalé terminal while the next phase of the Boduthakurufaanu Magu works went ahead. In June 2026, MTCC reopened part of the Henveiru area for docking near the Maldives Post Office, while stressing it was still a construction zone. If you are taking an atoll ferry, ask MTCC which berth your route is using that week.

The Villimalé ferry terminal (Maafannu)

On Malé’s west side, in the Maafannu district, is the terminal for the short crossing to Villimalé. These are frequent commuter boats that run through the day and into the night, and the crossing takes only a few minutes. Since October 2023, Greater Malé ferries have accepted contactless bank cards; paper tickets are sold at the counter.

It has also taken extra atoll ferries during the 2026 works. The Thilamalé Bridge to Villimalé is under construction; until it officially opens, plan on the ferry. Read more in our Villimalé guide.

The North Harbour and the market jetties

Along Malé’s northern edge, near the fish market and local market, the North Harbour is a working harbour run by MPL. It is where many island speedboats, supply boats and dhonis from the atolls load and unload. If a host tells you a boat leaves “from the jetty by the market” or gives you a jetty number, this is usually the stretch they mean.

This area has seen heavy work. In August 2025, MPL moved ferry operators to its North-west Harbour and South-west Harbour (the T-Jetty) for three months during repairs, as reported by MMTV. There is no single official public list of jetty numbers, so take the number from whoever runs your boat and check it again on the day.

The fish market and local market next door are worth a look even if your boat goes elsewhere.

The Official Jetty (Izzudheen Faalan), also on the northern waterfront, is used for official arrivals rather than passengers, but it is a handy landmark when people give directions.

The southern harbour

Malé’s southern side has its own harbour, used by some speedboats and dhonis to and from the atolls. Remember it if your host mentions “the south harbour”. More change is coming: the government plans to move Malé’s commercial port to Thilafushi by late 2027 (see Thilafushi explained).

Velana International Airport sits on Hulhulé, an island right next to Malé. You do not need to go into the city to catch many boats.

The airport ferry to Malé

According to the airport, a public ferry runs between Hulhulé and Malé about every 15 minutes from around 5:30am to midnight, and you can pay with cash or card. The ferry counter is a short walk from arrivals. The airport lists the Malé landing as the “Hulhumalé Ferry Terminal”, meaning the north-east terminal in Malé, not Hulhumalé island. With heavy bags, the alternative is the bridge: RTL buses and taxis run to Malé and Hulhumalé (see the Sinamalé Bridge).

Speedboat jetties outside arrivals

The boat jetties are a short walk from arrivals, towards the sea. Most shared and private speedboats to resorts and to local islands near Malé use them. Shared speedboats run on fixed timetables; your guesthouse normally books your seat and may meet you. Seaplanes are separate: passengers check in at the terminal and are taken by bus to the seaplane base. Our airport arrival guide walks you through it.

Hulhumalé, the planned city on reclaimed land north of the airport, has its own MTCC ferry terminal. With the bridge carrying most commuters, it handles fewer Malé crossings than before, but it was opened to atoll speedboat ferries in March 2025 and took atoll ferries again during the 2026 Malé works. See our Hulhumalé guide.

Treat this as a general picture, not a timetable.

Getting to Dhiffushi

Dhiffushi is a good example of how this works. Shared speedboats from the airport and Malé take about 40 to 50 minutes. The cheaper public ferry, MTCC route 308, leaves from Malé, not the airport, and does not run on Fridays. Outer Kaafu routes, including Dhiffushi’s, were not yet part of RTL as of June 2026, so expect to pay in rufiyaa cash. Full details are in how to get to Dhiffushi.

• Confirm the berth the day before. Ask your host, or call MTCC’s hotline (1650) for its ferries. Do not rely on a map pin alone.
• Arrive early. Aim for 20 to 30 minutes before departure. Public ferries and shared speedboats can fill up, and finding the right boat in a busy harbour takes time.
• Ask staff. Counter staff and boat crews know which boat is which.
• Carry small rufiyaa notes. Many atoll ferries are cash only. Greater Malé ferries take contactless cards.
• Mind Fridays. Most public ferry routes do not run on Fridays, and short pauses around prayer times are normal.
• Watch the weather. Rough seas can delay or cancel boats. Leave a buffer before an international flight.
• Wear the life jacket. Life jackets are required on boats of 9 m or under and in areas under a weather alert. See boat safety in the Maldives.
• Watch your step. Jetties can be wet and crowded, with boats tied side by side. Let the crew pass your bags across.