The Maldives Monetary Authority’s Monetary Policy Committee held the policy rate at 7.0% for a fourth consecutive quarter, citing stable core inflation and a rufiyaa that has held against the dollar despite a widening current-account deficit.

Q1 2026 tourism earnings of $920 million were the highest on record for the season, up 9.4% year-on-year. Fisheries exports, however, lagged forecasts by $18 million — a shortfall the committee attributed to anchovy price weakness in Sri Lankan wholesale markets.