Duty Free in the Maldives

The duty free shop in the Maldives is completely different from similar shops in other airports around the world. Find out all about prices and products in duty free in the Maldives.

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When you arrive in the Maldives and find yourself in the airport building, you will not find a single store. It is impossible to buy anything in the arrivals area - all Duty Free, and souvenir shops are open only in the departure area.

What does this mean for those arriving on the islands? Many travelers hope to buy alcohol upon arrival, as it is not allowed to bring it with you to the Maldives. But this will not be possible: there are no duty-free shops.

Read: Alcohol in the Maldives: where it is allowed, bringing alcohol into the country and other nuances

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Departure area: Duty shop Free in Maldives

When leaving the Maldives, you can buy in the departure area at the Duty Shop Free many products. The shop at Velana International Airport occupies almost 600 square meters. There are many shops with a wide range of goods: from cosmetics and perfumes to chocolate, clothes and souvenirs. You can buy gifts in the last minutes before departure or just stroll between the windows.

What can you buy in Duty? Free Maldives

Perfumes and cosmetics
Alcohol and tobacco products
Chocolate and sweets
Jewelry and watches
Bags, clothes and accessories
Souvenirs and gifts

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Cosmetics and perfumes

If you want to buy a fragrance from a famous brand or try new perfumes, visit the specialized department. Here you will find brands such as Dior, Bvlgari, Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo and others. There are also premium skincare and cosmetics on sale. And recently the Maldives Company Airports Company Limited (MACL) opened new stores in the Duty Zone Free. Jo boutiques are now available to passengers Malone London, Tom Ford and MAC.

Examples prices:

Kenzo World Intense 50ml - $70
Dior Poison Girl Unexpected 50 ml - $80
Lancome La Vie Est Belle 75 ml - $130

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Chocolate and sweets

The sweets department has a large selection of Swiss and Belgian chocolate: Toblerone, Godiva, Goldkenn. Most of the chocolates are packed in gift boxes, which are great as souvenirs. And if you want to bring something more local, there is Maldivian tea in decorative packaging.

Souvenirs and gifts

Most tourists spend their holidays on private islands, where there are no markets or shopping centers. At best, there is a small souvenir shop at the hotel. Didn't have time to buy souvenirs at your resort? You will have such an opportunity at the airport. Of course, the prices are much higher, but you will definitely not be left without an authentic Maldivian gift. Magnets, shells, handicrafts - duty-free sells many Maldivian handmade souvenirs. But the prices are much higher than in Male or on local islands.

Read: What souvenirs to bring from the Maldives

Price examples :

Magnet with manta rays - $25 (on local islands the same can cost only $3)
It's impossible to find a souvenir for less than $5
More interesting items - from $20 to $50

Popular souvenirs include :

Miniature boats - dhoni.
Reed mats.
Cotton sarongs and t-shirts.
Hats, magnets, soft toys, glasses.

Advice: Since prices at the airport are higher than in the city, buy souvenirs in advance - on local islands or in Male. There the cost is 5-10 times lower, and the assortment is wider. For example, a magnet costs $1-2 in Male and $4-5 at the airport. Therefore, a airport - not the best place for shopping.

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Coconut products

The Maldives are famous for their coconut palms - this is the main building material. And all the souvenirs are made from different parts of the tree. In duty-free you can buy an original thing for the interior, made by hand by local craftsmen. This can be a vase, a figurine, a lampshade, a basket, kitchen utensils.

Prices: from 20 to 4000 MVR (from $2 to $260).

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Lacquered products

Traditional wooden items are handcrafted and painted with natural dyes in red, yellow and black tones. Popular items: spools vases, decorative dishes.

Prices : from 300 to 5000 MVR (approx. $20 - $325).

Sarongs

National clothes of the Maldives are often bought as a souvenir of a trip to the paradise islands. Brightly colored sarongs with colorful prints can easily be found at the airport. Feyli is worth paying special attention to - a traditional Maldivian sarong in black and white stripes, worn at formal events.

Prices: from 80 to 150 MVR ($5 - $10).

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Thundu kunaa

Thundu Hand Woven Mats Kunaa are made on local islands. They are used as wall decorations, floor mats or table mats. They are made using ancient technology on the islands of Fuvahmulah and Gaafu. Daalu (especially in the village of Gaddu ). This is a real work of art! Such mats were presented as gifts to the sultans, with gold threads woven into them.

Prices: from 800 to 15,000 MVR (about $50 - $1000), depending on size and design.

Clothing, jewelry and other goods

If you need a backpack, suitcase, clothes - all this can be found in the store. Duty free sells:

Fashionable backpacks and bags MCM (Germany)
Watches from Baume & Mercier and other brands
Jewelry
Tobacco products

It's full of products from famous brands such as MCM, Tumi, Michael Kors, Longines, Tissot, Montblanc, Hublot, Hamilton, Rado, Swarovski. This is only a small part of the full range of goods at Male Airport.

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Alcohol

The Maldives is a Muslim country and the sale of alcohol outside of tourist areas is prohibited. Import of alcohol is also prohibited. Therefore, Duty Free at the airport is one of the few legal sources of alcohol, and the prices are appropriate. However, you can only drink it after you leave the Maldives.

Even the most popular brands of alcohol in duty-free are much more expensive than in most other countries. For example, a bottle of Martini is at least $20, while in most countries the cost is no more than $10.

Examples prices: