Location : Southwest of Sri Lanka, on the equator.

Climate : Generally warm and humid, the sun shines all year through. Average temperature is around 29º - 32º degrees Celsius.

What to wear : Dress is generally casual. T-shirts and cotton clothing are most suitable. In Male', the capital island, and in other inhabited islands, it is recommended that you wear modest clothing.

Population : Population is nrealy 270,000. The origins of the Maldivians are lost in antiquity, but history reveals that the islands have been populated for more than 5,000 years. According to some researchers, sun worshippers who explored the world in reed ships discovered the islands.

Language : ‘Dhivehi’ is the native language of the Maldives. However, English is widely spoken throughout the country and in the resorts, and the staff speak a variety of languages including German, Italian, French and Japanese.

Economy : The Maldivian economy has been growing at an annual average of over 10 percent over the past two decades. Tourism, the main industry, contributes close to 20 percent to the GDP, while traditional fisheries and trade follow close behind. The Maldivian economy is regarded as exemplary in the region, and welcomes foreign investment. Per capita income for 1997 was recorded at US$ 900.00.

Local time  : GMT +5 hours.

Business hours : From Sunday to Thursday 7:30 - 14:30 in the government sector, and generally from 9:00 to 5:00 in the private sector. The weekend falls on Friday and Saturday.

In many ways Maldivian resorts are unique. For a start, each resort is on its own island and therefore when you are holidaying on one, the whole island is yours to enjoy. Consequently each resort has to be self-contained - producing its own electricity, desalinates its own water and has its own waste disposal facilities.

There are certain set standards when islands are planned for tourism development. In every resort island that is developed the building area should not exceed twenty percent of the total land area of the island. The buildings should not rise above the vegetation line. All guest rooms built should have five linear metres of beach in front.

Each resort has its own unique natural beauty, style and concept. Some have been carefully planned to give you an atmosphere of total peace and relaxation while others offer a variety of activities, games and entertainment. While some have been developed using local architectural features and designs, others have incorporated more modern international styles.