📖 About Raa Atoll

Raa Atoll (North Maalhosmadulu Atoll) is an administrative division in the northern Maldives, comprising approximately 88 islands, of which 15 are inhabited. With approximately 20,000 residents spread across local islands, this atoll combines traditional Maldivian life with growing luxury resort tourism. The capital island is Ungoofaaru.

Raa Atoll features pristine coral reefs, crystal-clear waters, and the characteristic Maldivian landscape of low-lying islands. Several luxury resorts operate on uninhabited islands. Traditional fishing remains important. The atoll represents the Maldives' development model—local inhabited islands maintaining traditional life while resort islands cater to international tourism.

🏛️ Top Attractions

💼 Economy & Culture

Raa Atoll's economy combines traditional fishing with growing tourism. Tuna fishing remains important; local islands process and export fish. Resort employment has transformed opportunities. Some islands focus on crafts—lacquerwork and rope-making traditionally. Agriculture is limited by small island size. The economy is transitioning as tourism expands, bringing both opportunity and change.

Maldivian culture is Islamic—Sunni Islam is the only permitted religion. Dhivehi is the native language. Culture centers on fishing traditions, Islamic practice, and community life. Music includes traditional bodu beru drumming. Food features fish—garudhiya (fish soup), mas huni (tuna with coconut). The culture is distinctively Maldivian—maritime, Islamic, and adapted to scattered island life across the archipelago.

📜 History

The Maldives were settled over 2,000 years ago, likely from South India and Sri Lanka. Buddhism preceded Islam, which arrived in 1153. The islands developed a maritime trading culture. European colonial interest came from Portuguese, Dutch, and British; the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887.

Independence came in 1965. Sultan's rule ended; republic was established. Tourism began in the 1970s, transforming the economy. Raa Atoll developed more slowly than southern atolls. Today resorts have expanded north; luxury tourism brings development to this traditional atoll while sea-level rise threatens the low-lying nation's future.