Maldives extends visa for tourists stranded due to Middle East airspace closure

Maldives Immigration has announced the decision to extend the tourist visa for visitors stranded in the Maldives as continued air strikes in the Middle East keep major airports in the region closed and flights cancelled for the third day.

The current conflict erupted after the United States and Israeli launched joint strikes on Iran on Saturday, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials, with Iran launching retaliatory air attacks on the neighboring states that host US assets.

Key transit airports, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, and Doha in Qatar, have been shut or severely restricted as much of the region’s airspace remains closed as attacks continue for a third day.

The airport closures have rippled far beyond the Middle East. Dubai and Doha sit at the crossroads of east-west air travel, funneling long-haul traffic between Europe and Asia through tightly scheduled networks of connecting flights. With those hubs idle, aircraft and crews remained stranded out of position, disrupting airline schedules worldwide, including in the Maldives.

Over 1,000 tourists were left stranded at the Velana International Airport (VIA) in Male’ on Saturday. More flight cancellations on Sunday affected another 3,530 passengers.

In a statement on Monday, Maldives Immigration noted the disruptions to global air travel due to the conflict in the Middle East, and the resultant cancellation of several flights to the Maldives.

Immigration said that it has therefore decided to extend tourist visa for visitors who are unable to depart the Maldives before the expiry of their visas.

Tourists can apply for visa extension through IMUGA.

⚠️ ދަތުރުފަތުރުގެ ނިޒާމަށް މިވަގުތު ކުރިމަތިވެފައިވާ ބުރޫތަކުގެ ސަބަބުން، ދަތުރުކުރުމުގައި ދަތިތަކާ ކުރިމަތިލާންޖެހިފައިވާ ފަތުރުވެރިންނަށް ދޫކޮށްފައިވާ ވިސާގެ މުއްދަތު އިތުރުކުރުމަށް ވަނީ ނިންމާފައި.

⚠️ In response to ongoing travel disruptions, a decision has been made to… pic.twitter.com/jvVxIf617t

— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) March 2, 2026

Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has activated a disruption management center at the VIA to assist affected passengers. The company has also repurposed the former domestic terminal as a temporary rest area for stranded travelers.

Essential items were provided to 130 passengers who remained at the airport as of Saturday evening, according to MACL.

Around 35 percent of daily tourist arrivals to the Maldives come from the Middle East, making the region’s airspace closures particularly impactful.

The Transport Ministry has also announced plans to bring in additional airlines to mitigate the disruption.

Despite the cancellations, MACL said airport operations remain stable and unaffected.