The Maldives operates on Maldives Time (MVT), which is 5 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+5). The entire country follows a single timezone and does not observe daylight saving time.
Malé, the capital and largest city, along with all 26 atolls follow MVT. The Maldives shares its timezone with Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
The Maldives is the world's lowest country, with an average ground level of just 1.5 meters above sea level. The country consists of 1,192 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls, of which only about 200 are inhabited. Many luxury resorts operate on their own "island time," often one hour ahead of MVT, to maximize daylight for guests.