2026 Holidays - Maldives

Maldives Public Holiday Observance Rules

1. Weekend Structure

- The Maldives observes a Friday–Saturday weekend, with Fridays designated as non-working days by law. Source

2. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend

- If a public holiday falls on a Friday or Saturday, it is generally moved to the prior Thursday or the next Sunday to extend the holiday celebration. Source

3. Working on Public Holidays

- Employees required to work on a public holiday are entitled to:

• Their regular pay for the hours worked.
• An additional 50% of their normal hourly rate for all hours worked on the holiday.
• If the work performed on the public holiday exceeds 40 hours per week, the employee must also receive premium pay for the overtime hours worked. Source

4. Annual Paid Leave

- The Labor Laws of the Maldives require that all employees are given a paid day off for national holidays. Source

5. Additional Notes

- Many holidays in the Maldives are based on the lunar calendar, calculated using the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia. It is not unusual for the President to declare several holidays throughout the year as multi-day celebrations. Source

- Employers and employees should refer to the Employment Act of the Maldives and any applicable collective agreements for specific provisions related to public holidays and work schedules.