Shopping
The huge variety and choice of goods available in Male, make the capital city a shoppers paradise. Anything and everything is available here, right from local and imported handicrafts and souvenirs to cigarettes and electronic items. What makes shopping here even more lucrative is that minimum or no duty is levied on most items.

Most of the shops are located in the main business area which is a five-minute walk from the jetty where tourists usually arrive. Even if guides recommend certain shops for duty free shopping, it is advisable to browse through a few shops before choosing what to buy. Duty free shops at Male International airport offer high quality electrical and electronic, goods, cameras, hi-fi stereo equipment watches and cosmetics along with cigarettes and other merchandise.

Handicrafts
Maldives has some great traditional handicrafts, which makes for delightful souvenirs to take back home. Maldivian handicraft includes mat weaving, embroidery for traditional dresses, coir making and lacquer work. Certain atolls or islands have crafts unique to the island.

The island Gadhdhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll is renown for its fine hand-woven mats made of dried rushes used for prayer mats and decorations. Thulaadhoo, in Baa Atoll, is also famous for the finest lacquer work in Maldives. Wooden pots, boxes and vases of all shapes and sizes display beautiful abstract patterns in red, black and yellow. Ribudhoo in Dhaalu Atoll is also known for its goldsmiths while Hulhudeli in the same Atoll is associated with its famous silversmiths.

Tourism has boosted the sale of 'sea jewelry'. This jewelry is a hit with visitors to the islands. Coral, mother-of-pearl, black coral, seashell and turtle-shell are some of the kind of jewellery on sale here. A word of warning though. Be careful when you buy sea turtle and black coral products. Due to their endangered status and environmental considerations, both have been made illegal for export.