Who Really Benefits from Economic Growth in the Maldives?

Despite continued growth in the Maldivian economy, questions are being raised about whether the benefits of this growth are reaching ordinary citizens. According to statistics from the Maldives Bureau of Statistics, nominal GDP in 2025 reached MVR 119.3 billion, a 9.8 percent increase from 2024. The World Bank estimates real GDP grew by 6.3 percent in 2025. However, columnist Ustadh Ahmed Shaz argues that GDP does not reveal how income and wealth are distributed. He points to a World Bank report showing that inflation averaged 4.0 percent in 2025, with atolls experiencing higher price increases at 4.9 percent compared to 3.5 percent in Malé. Housing remains a critical issue, with a 2022 World Bank report indicating that only 20 percent of families in the Malé area could afford a home through bank financing, and 74 percent of families in Malé were renting in 2019. Shaz calls for Islamic principles of justice in wealth distribution, emphasizing that national resources are a trust and that government policies must focus on expanding opportunities for property ownership, housing access, and support for small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the atolls.