Maldives has recorded a significant increase in the number of tourist arrivals from the Middle East.
The statistics from the Ministry of Tourism show 28,132 Middle Eastern tourists have visited the Maldives so far this year. It is a 1.6% increase compared to the 27,679 Middle Eastern tourist arrivals in 2019, which was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statistics show the main reason for the increase is due to the high number of tourists visiting the Maldives from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. As such a total of 10,721 tourists have arrived from Saudi Arabia, which includes 70% Saudi Arabian nationals and 30% foreign nationals living in the Gulf kingdom. A total of 29,689 tourists have arrived from the UAE, which also included a large number of foreign nationals living in the country.
Furthermore, six Middle Eastern airlines charter scheduled flights to the Maldives.
They consist of Emirates, Etihad Airways, Fly Dubai, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, and Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Statistics from the tourism ministry also show a total of 510,549 tourists have visited the Maldives so far this year, which is a 40% decrease compared to the same period in 2019.