Joanna James
For Muslim travellers looking for a halal holiday, the Maldives is the perfect destination. Here are five reasons why you should consider the Maldives for your next halal holiday.
The Maldives offers a wide range of halal food dishes, with many restaurants and resorts offering a variety of options. Visitors can enjoy fresh seafood dishes such as grilled fish or lobster, prepared using local Maldivian spices and ingredients. Traditional Maldivian dishes such as mas huni, made with shredded coconut, tuna, and onions, and rihaakuru, a spicy fish paste, are also popular options. Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine have also influenced Maldivian cuisine, with dishes such as biryani, samosas, and curries widely available. Visitors can also indulge in a variety of sweet treats, including bondibai, a sweetened rice dessert, and foni boakiba, a local doughnut-like pastry made with grated coconut and sugar. With so many options available, visitors are sure to find a range of delicious halal food options to suit their tastes during their stay in the Maldives.
Prayer facilities are also widely available in the Maldives, with most resorts providing designated prayer rooms and qibla direction indicators. Some resorts may even offer daily congregational prayers, providing a convenient option for Muslim visitors to fulfil their religious obligations during their stay. Visitors can also find mosques throughout the Maldives, with the largest ones located in the capital city of Male. These mosques often welcome visitors and offer a glimpse into the religious and cultural practices of the Maldivian people.
In the Maldives, the Islamic faith plays an integral role in the everyday lives of our people, and the culture reflects this through customs and traditions that promote hospitality, care, and respect for all visitors. When staying in a local island guesthouse, visitors will observe the community's modesty, with designated beaches for bikini wear and a complete ban on alcohol. Only Halal food and drinks are served, ensuring visitors' dietary requirements are met.
For Muslim travellers, privacy is often a top priority, particularly for those on honeymoon or vacationing with family members. To cater to their needs, there is a one-island-one-resort concept featuring bungalows with private beach areas and over-water villas with private pools, ideal for a romantic and secluded getaway or a family vacation. All rooms in this type of resort are equipped with attached toilet facilities featuring hand showers, which are also known as Muslim showers. Those who are wearing hijabs or niqabs can comfortably enjoy the sunny days in the privacy of their own pool or private beach area, savouring refreshing non-alcoholic beverages with their beloved husbands.
At the resorts, visitors can easily book recreational rooms such as reading rooms, wellness rooms, and game rooms, providing a private space for themselves and their families without having to share with others. In addition, there are various recreational activities that offer privacy, including arranging a private meal by the beach, going on a trip to a secluded sandbank with food and drinks included, or having a movie night under the canopy of stars with their loved ones. The spas at the Maldives 5-star resorts the likes of Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences are also designed to accommodate only one couple or person at a time, providing a completely private and personalised wellness treatment experience. The resorts strive to provide visitors with a range of exclusive and private options to ensure a truly relaxing and enjoyable stay.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
