Economy

Ayla isn’t just another resort. Framed as the Maldives’ first SEZ-backed sustainable township, it aims to combine luxury, services, and renewables—testing whether growth beyond tourism can stay truly sustainable.

For the Maldives, connectivity isn’t a convenience—it’s a condition of national life. An atoll state stretched across open water cannot grow without reliable gateways, and it cannot compete globally without making arrival feel effortless. That’s why the expansion of Velana International Airport in 2025 mattered far

It’s easy to write about the Maldives’ vulnerabilities: small size, import dependence, exposure to global shocks, climate risk. But it is equally true that the Maldives has repeatedly shown a rare national skill—recovery. In the last two decades, the country has demonstrated an ability to rebound from disruptions