Trading from the Maldives: what is different
The Maldives Monetary Authority manages the rufiyaa in a narrow band around 15.42 per US dollar, and tourism brings most of the country's dollar income. A USD account holds its value in rufiyaa terms while the band holds.
The working week is Sunday to Thursday, so Friday is a forex trading day on your weekend and Sunday is closed until the market opens at 03:00 on Monday.
Fuel is imported, so oil prices feed directly into local costs. Brent and WTI are on the platform alongside gold and 100+ currency pairs.
Forex market hours in the Maldives
The forex market is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, passing from Asia to Europe to North America. These are the main sessions converted to local time in the Maldives.
| Session | Local time, Nov–Mar | Local time, Apr–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo session | 05:00–14:00 | 05:00–14:00 |
| London session | 13:00–22:00 | 12:00–21:00 |
| New York session | 18:00–03:00 | 17:00–02:00 |
| London–New York overlap | 18:00–22:00 | 17:00–21:00 |
| Weekly open | Monday 03:00 | Monday 02:00 |
| Weekly close | Saturday 03:00 | Saturday 02:00 |
The busiest hours for the major pairs and gold are usually the London–New York overlap. Spreads tend to be widest around the daily rollover and in the first hour after the weekly open.
Markets to watch from the Maldives
- XAU/USD (gold).
- Brent and WTI crude oil.
- EUR/USD and GBP/USD — Europe is the largest source of tourists.
- US indices — from the US stock-market open at 19:30 Malé time in winter.
Accounts and funding
| Account | Minimum deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $100 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Pro | $1,000 | From 0.6 pips | None |
| Raw ECN | $5,000 | From 0.0 pips | $7 per lot |
Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) or Tron (TRC20). There is no Maldivian rufiyaa conversion inside your account; any conversion happens wherever you buy or sell USDT. Identity verification is completed once, before your first withdrawal.
Regulation and your responsibility
AlphaFX Pro is an international broker and is not licensed by the Capital Market Development Authority (CMDA) and the Maldives Monetary Authority. Our registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress. We do not provide investment advice or a local office in the Maldives.
Before opening an account, make sure the law in the Maldives allows you to trade CFDs with a broker based outside the country, and check any rules on moving money abroad. If you are not sure, ask us before you deposit.
Frequently asked questions
When does forex open in the Maldives?
Monday at 03:00 Malé time from November to March, and 02:00 from April to October.
Can I trade the rufiyaa?
No. Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT.
What is the minimum deposit from the Maldives?
The Standard account opens from $100, funded in USDT. Pro starts at $1,000 and Raw ECN at $5,000.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is general information, not investment advice. Read the Risk Disclosure.