The Maldives has banned Israeli passport holders from entering its territory, citing support for Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The move, ratified by President Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday, follows unanimous parliamentary approval and increasing domestic pressure.
The amendment to the country’s Immigration Act was passed by the Maldivian parliament and signed into law by President Muizzu on April 15, 2025.
According to the President’s Office, the legislation reflects the nation’s condemnation of what it refers to as Israel’s "ongoing atrocities" in Gaza.
The updated policy bars entry to travellers using Israeli passports, although dual nationals may still enter the Maldives using documents from other countries.
The ban was originally proposed in May 2024 by opposition lawmaker Meekail Ahmed Naseem and was passed by the Committee on Security Services before gaining full parliamentary approval.
The proposal had remained in committee for 308 days.
More than 11,000 Israelis visited the Maldives in 2023, but tourism numbers reportedly declined in 2024 following the Gaza conflict.
In response to the ban, Israel’s Foreign Ministry has advised its citizens, including those with dual citizenship, to avoid travel to the Maldives and consider leaving the country due to limited consular services.
President Muizzu also announced plans to appoint a special envoy to assess humanitarian needs in Palestinian territories and to launch a fundraising drive titled “Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine.”
The Maldives, a nation of around 530,000 people, is more than 98% Muslim. It previously banned Israeli tourists but lifted that restriction in the 1990s.
Attempts to normalise diplomatic relations in 2010 stalled two years later. Under the 2008 constitution, Maldivian citizenship requires nominal adherence to Sunni Islam.
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