Essentials
- City
- Addu City (Seenu Atoll), Maldives
- Population
- Approximately 35,000
- Internet Speed
- Fiber broadband widely available; 50-100 Mbps via Dhiraagu or Ooredoo
- Currency & Banking
- Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR); 1 USD ≈ 15.42 MVR. Bank of Maldives (BML) branches in Hithadhoo and Feydhoo
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; bottled or desalinated water required (approx. 10 MVR per 1.5L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) sockets
- SIM Card
- Dhiraagu and Ooredoo; 30-day tourist plans (17GB to 100GB) cost $35 to $50
- Banking for Expats
- BML (Bank of Maldives) and MIB (Maldives Islamic Bank); Visa/Mastercard accepted in resorts and larger shops
- Accommodation
- Guesthouses and boutique hotels mainly in Hithadhoo and Maradhoo; $400 - $1,200/month
- Cashless Friendly
- Mostly; cards accepted in hotels and supermarkets, cash preferred in local 'hotaa' (cafes)
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and local guesthouses like Wave Sound by 3S (Maradhoo-Feydhoo)
- Budget Accommodation
- Pebbles Inn (Hithadhoo); approximately $45 - $60 per night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Maradhoo-Feydhoo for easy access to the link road and dive shops
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Hithadhoo (capital district) for proximity to banks, largest grocery stores, and fiber internet nodes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- No dedicated coworking hubs; Equator Village Business Center (Gan) offers meeting facilities for a fee
- Best Cafe for Work
- Suvadive Café (Gan) or Fast Food Addu (Hithadhoo); quiet atmosphere with reliable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Informal gatherings at diving centers like Aquaventure or Addu Dive; no formal tech meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Friday night dinners at Canareef Resort or expat football matches at the Hithadhoo Stadium
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No apps; Avas Ride is used in Male but here you call taxi centers directly (e.g., Addu Taxi: +960 688-5511). Flat rates ~30-100 MVR
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- M.S. Rentals (Hithadhoo); scooters for ~250 MVR/day or bicycles for ~100 MVR/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Koattey Area (Hithadhoo) for wild nature or the private beach at Equator Village
- Top Regional Airline
- Maldivian (connecting Gan International Airport to Male)
- Top International Airline
- SriLankan Airlines (direct flights to Gan from Colombo)
- Highway Access
- The Addu Link Road; the second longest paved road in the Maldives (16km connecting 4 islands)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gan International Airport (GAN)
- Public Transport Passes
- No passes; the public bus service (MTCC) operates on the link road for ~10-20 MVR per trip paid in cash
- Regional Travel
- Speedboat ferries to nearby islands (Fuvahmulah) via MTCC or private charters
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Addu Equatorial Hospital (AEH) in Hithadhoo; the most modern facility in the south
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Island Spa at Equator Village; occasional community yoga at the Koattey park area
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Addu Fitness Club (Hithadhoo); membership approx. 500 MVR/month
- Laundry Services
- Eco Laundry (Maradhoo); approx. 20 MVR per kg
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- None; direct phone orders to restaurants like 'My Dream' or 'Fast Food' are standard
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Addu Kuku (Addu Chicken Curry) and Addu Bondi (sweet coconut stick)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Green Garden Cafe (Hithadhoo); offers vegetable fried rice and island-grown salads
- Best Dessert Spots
- Sweet Temptations (Maradhoo); local pastries and cakes
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Sonee Hardware (supplies) and 3S Supermarket (Hithadhoo) for groceries
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Personal delivery via Instagram shops; e-Life Maldives for electronics
- Grocery Delivery
- Direct messaging via WhatsApp to 3S Supermarket
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Alcohol is only legal on resort islands like Canareef or the bar at Equator Village (Gan)
- Local Brewery
- Non-existent (Alcohol is prohibited for locals); local 'Raa' (coconut toddy) is a traditional drink
- Wine Bars
- Verandah Bar (Equator Village) is the only place locally to get wine
- Street Food Stalls
- Hithadhoo Stage area in the evenings; serves 'Short Eats' (Hedhikaa) such as Gulha and Bajiya
- Popular International Cuisine
- Palm Village (Maradhoo) for Chinese and Indian fusion
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The British War Memorial and RAF Gan remnants
- Museums & Art Venues
- Small historical display at the Equator Village lobby regarding WWII history
- Historical Sites
- Old Friday Mosque (Hithadhoo Miskiy) and the ruins on Hulhudhoo
- Religious Sites
- Masjid Al-Birri (Pagoda style) in Hithadhoo
- Annual Events
- Eid-al-Fitr celebrations (traditional dances and street games)
- Cultural Districts
- Hulhumeedhoo island; reachable by ferry, known for its distinct dialect and farm lands
- Theater Venues
- Addu City Hall Multi-purpose hall for local performances
- Local Markets
- Saturday Market in Hithadhoo for fresh papayas and smoked tuna
- Music Scene
- Live acoustic bands at resort 'Guest Nights' and local BODU BERU drumming groups
- Street Art
- Graffiti on the sea walls in Feydhoo depicting marine life
- Cooking Classes
- Available upon request at Wave Sound guesthouse ($30/lesson)
- Art Galleries
- No formal galleries; local artisanal shops in Maradhoo sell wood carvings
- Historic Buildings
- British RAF bunkers and the old administrative buildings on Gan
- Local Heritage
- Distinctive Addu Bas (dialect) which differs significantly from the northern Dhivehi
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Eydhigali Kilhi & Koattey Protected Area; a massive wetland and lake system
- National Parks Nearby
- Addu Nature Park (Hithadhoo); entry ~30 MVR for foreigners, features mangroves and kayak rentals
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The 16km Link Road path; flat and scenic with ocean views
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Causeway between Maradhoo and Feydhoo at sunset
- Birdwatching Locations
- Eydhigali Kilhi; home to the White Tern (Dhondheeni), exclusive to Addu
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Uninhabited parts of the Koattey area (check for local permits)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Post Office branch in Hithadhoo; DHL services available via the Gan airport office
- Tech Repair Services
- iFix Addu (Hithadhoo) for mobile and laptop repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Local Youth Centers usually have tables; free access for visitors
- Language Classes
- Private tutors for Dhivehi via Addu City Council notice boards
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National University - Hithadhoo Campus Library
- Community Centers
- Maradhoo Youth Center for local networking
- Gaming Lounges
- Console cafes in Hithadhoo; 30 MVR/hour
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Strictly prohibited by law in the Maldives
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Foreigners cannot own land; long-term land leases available for approx. $2,500/sqm via local proxies
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Leasehold options in Hulhudhoo approx. $1,800/sqm
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $120,000 for a 60m² unit (leasehold 99 years, specific zones)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $90,000 for a 60m² unit (leasehold)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $180,000 for 80m² (leasehold agreement only)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $140,000 for 80m² (leasehold)
- Corporate Tax
- 15% (Business Profit Tax/BPT)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Residence-based; individuals are taxed if they reside 183+ days
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 15% (for income above MVR 200,000 per month)
- VAT
- 8% (TGST for tourism services); 6% GST for general goods
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC regulations
- Property Tax
- None (Land rent applies for commercial leases)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Land transfer tax usually at 15% (MVR rate)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Personal income tax begins only at very high thresholds (MVR 60,000/month exempt)