Shopping in Maldives

Male is bursting with shops and stalls that sell everything from fresh fruit to sophisticated toiletries and lovely light cotton sarongs in myriad colours. The Baa Atoll has many handicraft shops. These have local ware like lacquer inlaid earrings and ornamental knick-knacks, and cotton sarongs.

Maldives imports most of its consumer goods including furniture for the hotels so things are nowhere near cheap. But the local stuff like the succulent fruits are great and sarongs will make friends at home happy.

Shops are open from 0830 hrs to 2300 hrs Saurday-Thursday and 1300-2300 hrs on Friday. They close for 15 minutes 5 times a day in response to the muezzin’s call.