Boats travelling to Malé have started arriving back in the city after the North Harbour was left largely empty in the days leading up to Eid al-Fitr.

For the past two to three days, many boats departed Malé for the islands, contributing to the noticeable emptiness in the city's harbour. By Friday, the area had become visibly clear of boats, a trend commonly observed during Eid celebrations when the harbour experiences a significant reduction in activity.

Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), the entity responsible for managing Malé North Harbour, reported that 24 boats were present in the northern harbour area as of this morning. Typically, the harbour accommodates up to 32 ships that deliver goods to the city. The facility is divided into four zones designed to facilitate vessel docking, and currently, the express zone—which is allocated to those requiring space urgently at a higher rate—remains unoccupied.

With the harbour largely empty, business activity in Malé's market saw a decline over the past few days. However, as boats began returning to the city, market supply levels started to stabilise. Essential goods, including coconuts and plaintains, arrived in Malé today with the return of passenger boats, helping to replenish dwindling stock.