Ministry of Economic Development, on Wednesday, permitted three cafés in the capital city of Male' to operate for 24 hours.
The three cafe's granted permission to operate for 24 hours are The Sea House, Saffron Café, and Nice 'N' Spice.
According to the Ministry, a total of six businesses requested permission to operate for 24 hours.
But the Ministry did not reveal if or when the remaining establishments would be granted permission.
Economic Ministry had previously declared that businesses located on major roads of Male’ could apply for permits.
Cafés and shops must fulfil set criteria to be given permission. This includes:
- Having a clearly visible interior
- Being equipped with security cameras that operate for 24 hours
- Smoking must be prohibited within the premises
However, no foreign franchises operating in Maldives will be permitted to run their businesses around the clock.
Business must pay a fee of MVR 2000 per year if they wish to operate after hours.
Granted for two-year periods, the permit will be withheld for six months on the first instance the business fails to adhere to any of the requirements. The permit can be cancelled upon repeated failure to meet the set requirements.
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