![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WDD2ZTJY45A7RDDDWJKGODD4VQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=43d83f40e8ab6332f5f1ae6d538823297c7c4010f9e71e08fcc3505ec0398f66&width=400&height=225)
More people are taking extended workcations here. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2KT4ADZS7NF3GMI37OHUB4P32Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=65c4b882afb63db9e10de71709c976fb1806903f5886bcc2b751db50ed5b2166&width=400&height=225)
The Maldives is a popular destination among UAE travellers. Photo: Velaa Private Island
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6E24WSTRHMR75TMII5O7CKL2IY.jpg?smart=true&auth=028399c319335b0859f1c785ef4a791a8b2be408c7b9b2f13373704cb9a28bad&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view of the island of Male, capital of the Maldives. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PCS7YL6AVVFOBOCGLUYY7RB34U.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b45a1ca25484732ce961fd9ef12d0d209e8c69900543848e3a82bbd4ec6c2a8&width=400&height=225)
Beach lounging is a popular pastime for travellers here.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3S4YAHNC4TJSLDUYSHCQ72UR2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d7050709ac87f060c5e67403e88c1590b04cadce179af35d0e80887192f03e5&width=400&height=225)
The Maldives economy is heavily dependent on tourism. Male Atoll is pictured here. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QO3W3KS4NYXKR2O4CZCA665MV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb74cc9637f8e7d7b4d48afc5849f31aecf3211857289da1c30f6c5e6ea17db6&width=400&height=225)
Maldives is famous for its high-end international tourism.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5Z7STLRZQ5BHTM2W35LGO7K2VE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fce77f412d090b708ba2d055a3e2590aa9a64935dbecea671325da724b6ec46&width=400&height=225)
Gan International Airport is ideally located for travellers flying to the Southern Atolls. Photo: Gan International Airport / Facebook
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3X7533VDMVBPLN5J6BXNRJIBIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8f5b5eb5ab4c937b048963926c3c1c361f60d9b1f80e778f95eef531bdd166c3&width=400&height=225)
A luxury stay for the whole family awaits at Baglioni Resort Maldives. Photo: Baglioni Resorts
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EJCPMAKARFEN7BMOGRSCE6UHKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a036d3bbc1fe1220028b6b24db3c5f50dada535dcc58131baa463583998486e&width=400&height=225)
Zuma in the Maldives. Photo: Zuma
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IO2JFN6NKBGEJFDJ6Z2EG2M2GI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1c2ad3c2d344dac36ecf168d8a3184454fba4401aed9af2e9a2be58f96ab9a4e&width=400&height=225)
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UBZRX6XBCNCIDGOFOEC7V5SZOQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a8f49cd8011fe5fcc23e4f391920ab90cbd7b426f88b3a12a65b4e10720c607&width=400&height=225)
Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WDD2ZTJY45A7RDDDWJKGODD4VQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=43d83f40e8ab6332f5f1ae6d538823297c7c4010f9e71e08fcc3505ec0398f66&width=400&height=225)
More people are taking extended workcations here. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2KT4ADZS7NF3GMI37OHUB4P32Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=65c4b882afb63db9e10de71709c976fb1806903f5886bcc2b751db50ed5b2166&width=400&height=225)
The Maldives is a popular destination among UAE travellers. Photo: Velaa Private Island
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6E24WSTRHMR75TMII5O7CKL2IY.jpg?smart=true&auth=028399c319335b0859f1c785ef4a791a8b2be408c7b9b2f13373704cb9a28bad&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view of the island of Male, capital of the Maldives. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PCS7YL6AVVFOBOCGLUYY7RB34U.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b45a1ca25484732ce961fd9ef12d0d209e8c69900543848e3a82bbd4ec6c2a8&width=400&height=225)
Beach lounging is a popular pastime for travellers here.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3S4YAHNC4TJSLDUYSHCQ72UR2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d7050709ac87f060c5e67403e88c1590b04cadce179af35d0e80887192f03e5&width=400&height=225)
The Maldives economy is heavily dependent on tourism. Male Atoll is pictured here. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QO3W3KS4NYXKR2O4CZCA665MV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb74cc9637f8e7d7b4d48afc5849f31aecf3211857289da1c30f6c5e6ea17db6&width=400&height=225)
Maldives is famous for its high-end international tourism.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5Z7STLRZQ5BHTM2W35LGO7K2VE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fce77f412d090b708ba2d055a3e2590aa9a64935dbecea671325da724b6ec46&width=400&height=225)
Gan International Airport is ideally located for travellers flying to the Southern Atolls. Photo: Gan International Airport / Facebook
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3X7533VDMVBPLN5J6BXNRJIBIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8f5b5eb5ab4c937b048963926c3c1c361f60d9b1f80e778f95eef531bdd166c3&width=400&height=225)
A luxury stay for the whole family awaits at Baglioni Resort Maldives. Photo: Baglioni Resorts
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EJCPMAKARFEN7BMOGRSCE6UHKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a036d3bbc1fe1220028b6b24db3c5f50dada535dcc58131baa463583998486e&width=400&height=225)
Zuma in the Maldives. Photo: Zuma
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IO2JFN6NKBGEJFDJ6Z2EG2M2GI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1c2ad3c2d344dac36ecf168d8a3184454fba4401aed9af2e9a2be58f96ab9a4e&width=400&height=225)
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UBZRX6XBCNCIDGOFOEC7V5SZOQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a8f49cd8011fe5fcc23e4f391920ab90cbd7b426f88b3a12a65b4e10720c607&width=400&height=225)
Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WDD2ZTJY45A7RDDDWJKGODD4VQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=43d83f40e8ab6332f5f1ae6d538823297c7c4010f9e71e08fcc3505ec0398f66&width=400&height=225)
More people are taking extended workcations here. Getty Images
Flydubai is first UAE airline to launch flights to Maldives’ Gan airport
The airport is perfectly located for travellers flying to the Southern Atolls in the Indian Ocean holiday hotspot
![Hayley Skirka](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5aa171d9-e19e-4724-894f-afdab957726f.png?smart=true&auth=0060497e4d6de279036bf67ee0e69c23726110ddc9067f6419a245b2b05cf91d&width=70&height=70)
Hayley Skirka
13 October, 2022
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