News

Green Tax Regime: Twelfth Amendment to Maldives Tourism Act [Law no. 2/99] From January 1, 2023, the state will levy a Green Tax of US$ 6 per person per day on tourist resorts, integrated tourist resorts, resort hotels, hotels, tourist guesthouses, tourist vessels, and other similar tourist establishments operating in the Maldives. This is except

Maldives Enacts International Trade Controls on Endangered Species Act [Law No. 13/2022] The Maldives enacted the International Trade Controls on Endangered Species Act (Law no. 13/2022) on 20 July, 2022. The primary objective of this Act is to implement the “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” (CITES), which Maldives

Maldives ratifies the Artistic Productions Classification Act [Law no. 12/2022] On 18th July 2022, the Artistic Productions Classification Act of Maldives [Act no. 12/2022] was ratified. The Act specifies the criteria for classifying artistic productions imported to or produced in the Maldives.  Artistic productions made in or imported into the country shall be classified as one

The new Evidence Act of Maldives [Law no. 11/2022], creates controversy The new Evidence Act of Maldives (Act no. 11/2022) has come into force and repealed the previous Evidence Act (Act no. 24/76) and the Women’s Testimony Act (Act no. 14/72).  According to the Evidence Act, certain steps must be taken while acquiring evidence in both

First amendment to the Maldives Fisheries Act [Law no. 14/2019]: All you need to know On July 17 2022, the first amendment to The Maldives Fisheries Act [Law no. 14/2019] was enacted.  The Maldives Transport Authority Act (Act No. 3/2016) was repealed on December 13, 2021, hence the amendment rewords Section 56 of the law

Northern and southern High Court branches dissolved: Fourth amendment to Judicature Act of Maldives [Law no. 22/2010] On 17 July 2022, the fourth amendment to the Judicature Act of Maldives [Law no. 22/2012] was ratified.  The amendment stipulates that all High Court cases and hearings must be conducted normally in Malé, and that all judges

Changes to the Maldives Tourism Act: Eleventh amendment to the Tourism Act [Law no. 2/99] The eleventh amendment to The Maldives Tourism Act [Law no. 2/99] was enacted on July 3, 2022.  The amendment establishes the procedures to calculate the market value of shares of tourism facilities leased under joint ventures to ensure the interests

First amendment to Maldives Water and Sewerage Act [Law no. 8/2020] The first amendment to Maldives Water and Sewerage Act [Law no. 8/2020] was enacted on May 10, 2022. Two subsections have been added to Section 11, which calls for quality assurance procedures and consultation with experts when developing water and sewerage systems.  Section 54

Enactment of the first amendment to the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Act [Law no. 06/2013] First  amendment to the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Act of Maldives [Law no. 06/2013] was enacted on May 10, 2022.  The amendment redefined the classification of the categories of the enterprises to micro, small, and medium sized enterprises. The

First amendment to Maldives Foreign Service Act [Law no. 20/2021] On 10th May 2022, the first amendment to Maldives Foreign Service Act (Law no. 20/2021) was ratified.  The amendment abolished Section 44 (b) of the law, which provided that the wages and allowances of Foreign Service employees would be decided by the National Pay Commission