NEWS

Press Releases

Maldivians Most Positive Towards Saudi, China, Findings of Opinion Poll Show

1st March 2026

Maldivians are most favourably disposed towards Saudi Arabia and China and think least of the United States, according to the results of Baani Centre's latest opinion poll.

Yameen Maldives' Most Popular Political Leader, Shows Baani Opinion Poll

17th January 2026

Former President Abdullah Yameen is Maldives' most popular political leader, according to the results of Baani Centre International Policy's latest public opinion poll.

Over 60% of Voters Approve of President Muizzu, Finds New Baani Poll

18th December 2025

Over 60% of voters approve of the way President Muizzu is performing in his job, indicating strong support for the President midway through his first term

President Solih Leads, But ‘Undecided’ Voters Will Sway Outcome of Election’s Second Round

28th September 2023

President Solih maintains a lead in the Baani Centre’s September opinion poll, but ‘undecided’ voters will likely determine the outcome of the presidential election’s second round, to be held on Saturday, finds Baani Poll

Free Trade Agreement with China Would Significantly Reduce Government Revenue, Finds New Baani Study

7th September 2023

An economic analysis of the China-Maldives Free Trade Agreement (FTA), passed through parliament during former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration, has found that the FTA would lead to a significant reduction in Maldivian government import duty.

Undecided Voters Likely to Determine Outcome of Presidential Election, finds Baani Poll

25th August 2023

Undecided voters will likely determine the outcome of the Maldivian presidential election on 9 September, according to the results of a new opinion poll conducted by local think tank, the Baani Centre for International Policy.

China-Maldives Friendship Bridge ‘Transformational’ Project Despite Transparency Issues

10th August 2023

A new impact assessment study of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge and link road to Hulhumale’ finds that the project is a “vital and transformational infrastructure asset” despite the lack of transparency regarding the cost.

July’s Baani Opinion Poll Reveals Jump in Support for Former President Yameen

25th July 2023

Support for former President Yameen has increased over the past month, with 18% of voters saying they would vote for the jailed oppositin leader if an election were to be held tomorrow and he was able to stand, finds new Baani Poll.

Presidential Race Appears to Tighten, but Majority of Maldivians Undecided on Who They Will Vote For

27th June 2023

A majority of Maldivians are undecided who they will vote for in a presidential election, however, the 2023 Presidential Race appears to tighten with no candidate enjoying an unassailable lead over the other.

Maldives Presidential Election Race Still Uncertain as Majority of Voters Remain Undecided, New Think Tank Poll Reveal

25th May 2023

The latest opinion poll conducted by Baani Centre for International Policy reveals that the 2023 presidential election continues to be highly unpredictable, as a significant percentage of voters remain undecided about their preferred candidate. The May poll results closely mirror those of April.

Maldives Presidential Election Race Wide Open with 43% of Voters Still Undecided on Preferred Candidate

25th April 2023

The Maldives 2023 presidential race is currently wide open with no single candidate enjoying a significant lead, and with 43% of voters undecided about their preferred candidate. These are the headline results of a new opinion poll conducted by the Baani Centre for International Policy.

New Report Highlights Impact to Maldivian Tourism from Chinese Covid Policies and Ukraine War

27th November 2022

“Impact of Non-Arrival of Chinese Tourists to Maldives” examines how Maldivian tourism responded to China’s decision during the pandemic to close its international border, which resulted in a dramatic collapse in Chinese tourists visiting Maldives.

Maldives Debt Levels Very High, but Country 'Not Yet' in Debt Distress, Finds New Think Tank Report

2nd November 2022

The Maldives' government's stock of public and publicly-guaranteed debt (PPG) is at an extremely high level and has increased significantly over the past few years, but the country is not yet in debt distress.

FEATURED

Maldives election: could be key for China, India rivalry

By Reuters

6th September 2023

A poll of 384 people published last month by the Baani Center think tank found that 21% of respondents favoured Solih compared with 14% for Muizzu. But that indicated a big majority of Maldivians, 53%, were undecided.

Maldives nascent presidential race keeps India and China on edge

By Nikkei Asia

19th July 2023

A June opinion poll by the Baani Center for International Policy, a Maldivian think tank, revealed that 52% of respondents were undecided. Support for specific candidates was low: 15% for Solih, 10% for Yameen and 6% for Nasheed.

The Maldives: geopolitics of Chinese tourism

By the Lowy Institute

10th February 2023

According to The Baani Centre for International Policy, a Maldivian think tank with access to current and former Maldives government officials, during the 2008–12 term of President Mohamed Nasheed, China threatened to remove the Maldives’ ADS due to negotiations between Malé and Washington to allow suspected Uyghur terrorists detained at Guantanamo Bay to be resettled in the Maldives.

Asia's ticking debt bomb - Sri Lanka crisis sounds alarm bells across region

By Nikkei Asia

3rd October 2022

Across Asia, debt distress signals are flashing... including urgent borrowing by Maldives to make repayments on existing debts. "It is essential that these [sovereign bond] issuances go forward as planned... to avoid a scenario where the government is unable to meet its debt obligations," revealed a recent study by the Baani Center.