Malé (Dhivehi: މާލެ;/ˈmɑːleɪ/, local pronunciation [ˈmɑːlɛ]) is the capital and most populous city of the Republic of Maldives. Male is located on the southern edge of North Male Atoll and is part of the administrative division of the Maldives. It was traditionally the seat of the ancient Maldivian dynasty rule and royal palace. The city, also known as Mahal, was originally a city with walls. Recently, Malé Island has expanded its land area through reclamation.
Although Male is geographically part of Kaafu Atoll, it is not administratively subordinate. The central area of the city is the island of Male, which has a commercial port and is the center of commercial activity throughout the country. The central island is heavily urbanized, and almost the entire island is covered with buildings. Slightly less than one-third of the country's population is concentrated in the capital, rising from 20,000 in 1987 to 100,000 in 2006. Many Maldivian laymen and foreign workers stay on the island for a short time because it is the only entry point for the country, the central seat of the government and bureaucracy.
Male is a conservative Muslim city. While visitors to the Outer Islands may find the country very Westernized, malé itself is very different from the Outer Islands.
Tourism is the largest industry in the Maldives, accounting for 28% of the Maldives' GDP and more than 60% of its foreign exchange earnings. More than 90% of government taxes come from import duties and tourism-related taxes. The central seaport and the Maldivian port are located in Malé, and the country's only international airport, Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, is also located here, so it becomes the center of all commercial activities in the country.
Maldives Airlines is the national airline of the Maldives and is headquartered in Malé.
Male has a tropical monsoon climate. The city is characterized by dry seasons and wet seasons, with dry seasons from January to April and wet seasons from May to December. Unlike other cities with the same climate, Male's temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average of 30 degrees Celsius and an average low temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. The average annual rainfall in the city is 1,600 mm.
The entire group of islands, the Maldives, is named after its capital. "Maldives" means "island of Male". The first settlers in the Maldivian archipelago were the Dravidians. In the 16th century it was used by the Portuguese as a trading port.