Maldives Moves to Permanently Ban Israeli Passport Holders
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
The Maldives government is proposing legislation to permanently ban Israeli passport holders from entering the country and to prohibit Israeli investment in local real estate. President Mohamed Muizzu stated the ban is a response to the conflict in Gaza. While currently facing temporary restrictions, the new bill aims for an unconditional, indefinite prohibition. The Maldives, which relies on tourism, saw a small number of Israeli visitors in recent years. Israeli officials are warning citizens against travel due to potential entry denials and diplomatic complications.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Maldives plans permanent entry ban for Israeli passport holders, citing the conflict in Gaza.
- New legislation will also prohibit Israeli citizens and companies from investing in Maldivian real estate.
- The proposed ban is unconditional and will not depend on future peace negotiations or regional events.
- Maldives relies on tourism, with Israeli visitors forming a small percentage of the total.
- Israeli officials warn citizens against travel due to potential entry denials and diplomatic issues.
The government of the Maldives is advancing legislation to permanently ban individuals holding Israeli passports from entering the country. The proposed law, detailed by President Mohamed Muizzu, aims to establish an unconditional and indefinite entry ban, irrespective of any ongoing conflicts. This move is presented as a response to the "genocide committed by Israel against Palestine," which the Maldivian president stated is unacceptable to his nation's citizens.
Currently, temporary measures restrict Israeli passport holders' entry until the cessation of hostilities in Gaza, a rule set to expire in April 2025. The new bill seeks to remove this condition, making the ban absolute. Alongside the entry ban, a separate bill under parliamentary review aims to prohibit Israeli citizens and companies from investing in Maldivian real estate and local projects. This includes specific projects like Maldives Water Front and Marina in Rasmale.
President Muizzu emphasized that enhanced Know Your Customer (KYC) checks will be mandatory for all financial transactions. The real estate bill explicitly forbids any Israeli citizen, investor, or company from investing, with stricter verification required even for those with dual citizenship. If passed by parliament, these measures will take full effect, overriding any future peace negotiations or regional developments.
The Maldives, a Muslim-majority nation, has consistently supported the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. While heavily reliant on international tourism, with over 2.2 million visitors in 2025, Israeli tourists constitute a small fraction. In 2023, nearly 11,000 Israelis visited, and 1,435 visited in 2024 before initial restrictions were imposed.
Reports suggest that Maldivian immigration authorities have significant control over border crossings and possess methods to identify connections to Israel, such as the "place of birth" field in passports. While such a ban could contravene international law by discriminating against citizens of third countries, potentially leading to diplomatic crises, officials from Israel's national security and foreign ministries are advising citizens against traveling to the Maldives due to the real risk of denied entry or deportation.
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