President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has officially opened Maldives Expo 2026 at Hulhumalé Central Park, an exhibition the government describes as the largest ever held in the country. The expo opened on the evening of 25 October and will run until 2 November.
The President was accompanied at the inauguration by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed. Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Cabinet ministers and senior officials from several state institutions also attended the opening ceremony.
Nearly Double Last Year’s Participants
According to the President’s Office, this year’s expo brings together 430 participants displaying more than 4,400 products across seven exhibition districts. The 2025 edition had 240 participants spread over five districts, meaning the event has grown by almost 80 percent in a single year.
The exhibition now occupies the whole of Hulhumalé Central Park. It is organised by the Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade together with the Business Centre Corporation (BCC), under the theme “Future Maldives – Innovation, Creativity and Global Connections.”
Two New Districts for Tourism SMEs and Trade Partners
Two districts have been added this year. The Visitor Economy District is set aside for small and medium-sized enterprises working in the Maldivian tourism sector, giving smaller local tourism businesses a dedicated space to showcase their services.
The International District features technical products from countries with which the Maldives already has, or is pursuing, Free Trade or Preferential Trade Agreements. The addition reflects the government’s push to widen trade links with foreign partners.
Following the inauguration, the President and First Lady toured the stalls and met participants. The President’s Office said they are scheduled to return to the expo on the evenings of 26 and 27 October.
Awards and Economic Goals
An awards ceremony recognising winners across several categories was held on 24 October, a day before the official opening. Among the winners, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) took first place in the state-owned enterprises category, with exhibits that included staff-built models of the dredger used to reclaim the first phase of Hulhumalé and remotely controlled smart streetlights.
The government says the expo is intended to promote local creativity and innovation, support Maldivian businesses and open up new economic opportunities. Officials have linked it to the President’s target of building a fully developed and diversified economy by 2040.
The expo comes as the government rolls out a series of measures aimed at small businesses, including a planned SME zone in Addu City and changes to tax thresholds announced in recent days. Members of the public can visit the exhibition at Hulhumalé Central Park until 2 November.
