Maldives Travel Guide - Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year's Day.
10 Jan Islamic New Year.
20 Mar Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
8 Apr The Day Maldives Embraced Islam.
27 Apr National Day.
26-27 Jul Independence Day.
2 Sep Ramadan begins.
2 Oct Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends).
3 Nov Victory Day.
11 Nov Republic Day.
7 Dec Hajj Day.
9 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
29 Dec Islamic New Year.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
9 Mar Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
Apr* The Day Maldives Embraced Islam.
Apr* National Day.
26-27 Jul Independence Day.
22 Aug Ramadan begins.
21 Sep Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends).
3 Nov Victory Day.
11 Nov Republic Day.
28 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Dec* Hajj Day.

* Date to be confirmed.

Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on drinking in public places. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself, although this is generally unlikely to affect life on the resort islands. Eid al-Fitr and Eid el-Kebir may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.