Maldives declares 12 November a government holiday

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has declared Thursday 12 November 2026 a government holiday, the day after Republic Day.

By Mohamed Hussain·Nov 5, 2026, 7:53 PM · Updated Nov 5, 2026, 8:18 PM

A man in a dark suit walks along a red carpet between ceremonial guards in white shirts, red head wraps and red patterned sarongs, who hold long spears crossed over the path — Official ceremony marking Republic Day, 11 November 2025 (file photo). Photo: The President's Office, Maldives / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · The President's Office, Maldives / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Text size

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has declared Thursday 12 November 2026 an official government holiday, the President's Office announced on 5 November.

Why the day was added

Republic Day falls on Wednesday 11 November and is a public holiday, while 12 November would otherwise be a working day. The President's Office said the decision was made so that government employees get an unbroken break.

What it means

With the regular Friday and Saturday weekend, government employees will be off for four days in a row, from Wednesday 11 November to Saturday 14 November.

Work resumes on Sunday 15 November.

The announcement refers to government employees. It does not mention the private sector.

#Public holiday#Republic Day#President's Office

Aerial view of a resort island with a long jetty of overwater villas stretching across a turquoise lagoon, a white sand beach, palm trees and buildings on the island, and deep blue ocean and reef around it

Resort Pulse

Maldives: Vilamendhoo reopens on 15 November 2026

Vilamendhoo Maldives Resort Island in South Ari Atoll reopens on 15 November 2026 after a renovation that began on 1 May, the resort says.

Nov 6, 2026, 11:03 AM

A stage at WTM London where four men sit in chairs on a low platform beside a fifth man speaking at a white podium, in front of a large screen showing four portraits with names and the title Leadership Panel: Celebrate the Sunny Side, with an audience seated in the foreground

Tourism

Maldives unveils Visit Maldives Year 2027 in London

The Maldives unveiled Visit Maldives Year 2027, themed "Celebrate the Sunny Side", at WTM London on 3 November 2026, Visit Maldives Corporation said.

Nov 6, 2026, 11:00 AM

A man in a dark suit and red tie sits behind a blue nameplate reading MALDIVES at a conference table with a microphone and a glass of water, with a woman in a blue floral outfit seated behind him, a MALTA nameplate in front of a green plant, and other delegates and a colourful pink and blue backdrop behind

Politics

Maldives VP reaffirms 2040 goal at CHOGM

Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef told CHOGM in Antigua and Barbuda that the Maldives aims to be a developed nation by 2040.

Nov 6, 2026, 10:57 AM