Customs clearance for goods arriving by air in the Maldives is now operating 24 hours a day, a change that is expected to significantly ease supply pressures on small and medium enterprises and the country’s resort sector. The extended service follows a recent consultative meeting between President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and representatives of SMEs, where business owners detailed how limited clearance windows were delaying imports and disrupting daily operations. During that meeting, the administration pledged to expand air cargo clearance from the previous 18-hour schedule to a full 24-hour service to better match the pace and needs of Maldivian businesses.
Maldives Customs Service has since confirmed that the new round-the-clock operating hours are already in effect, giving importers more flexibility to clear goods throughout the day and night. The change is part of a broader package of measures discussed with SMEs to cut costs and improve the efficiency of cargo handling. One of the most significant steps under consideration is the extension of the demurrage-free period from 80 hours to 124 hours, after business owners highlighted that high demurrage charges were eroding margins and, in some cases, leading to direct financial losses for importers.
For the tourism industry and resort operators, which rely heavily on timely imports ranging from fresh food and beverages to building materials, spa products and technical equipment, the policy shift is expected to support smoother supply flows. Resorts often operate on tight delivery schedules to maintain high service standards for international guests, especially during peak seasons and major holiday periods. Extended clearance hours mean consignments can be released more quickly, reducing the risk of stock shortages, last-minute emergency shipments and service disruptions that can affect guest experience and operating costs.
The longer demurrage-free window, once implemented, is also likely to benefit logistics teams serving island resorts and guesthouses spread across the archipelago. Additional free time before charges apply provides more room to coordinate inter-island transport, consolidate cargo for multiple properties and manage weather-related or vessel-scheduling delays without immediately incurring penalty fees. This, in turn, can make procurement planning more predictable and support better cost control for hotel chains, independent resorts and the many SMEs that supply them.
Authorities have indicated that the issues affecting both airport and seaport operations will be reviewed as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen trade facilitation and ease the operational burden on businesses dependent on imports. As air cargo clearance becomes more responsive and demurrage policies are adjusted, international suppliers and investors are likely to view the Maldives as a more efficient and reliable market to serve. For a tourism-driven economy where resort performance is closely tied to the reliability of global supply chains, the expansion of 24-hour customs clearance represents a positive development that aligns business needs with national trade policy and supports long-term, sustainable growth across the sector.
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