Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in Maldives
NOT CONFIRMED FOR LIFTS: the Construction Act (Act 4/2017, gazetted 23 April 2017, in force about six months later) tasks the Ministry responsible for construction with a building code and regulations on safety standards, design/operating procedures and contractor categorisation; it was due to be followed by a Safety Regulation and an equipment-testing regulation. A Construction Administration Regulation (11 March 2019) covers site safety, safety standards before a building is used, permits and fines, with no lift mention found; a Building Code was issued around 2019–2020 but its compliance documents were put out to consultancy in 2020. No lift or escalator regulation, inspection rule or standard was found; the Maldives is not an ISO member and generally adopts international standards. The Housing Development Corporation operates the Hulhumalé towers and added new lifts (2024–2026); testing before use was reported without naming any authority. One lift rule was found at plot level: the Housing Development Corporation's Hulhumalé Phase 2 Planning and Development Guidelines (issued September 2024) require an elevator in any building higher than 16.5 m on those plots (secondary, news report); this is a development condition for HDC-allocated plots, not a national lift safety regulation.
Who regulates lifts
Ministry responsible for housing/construction (Construction Act 4/2017); Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in 2020
Periodic inspection
Not found
Installer and maintenance licensing
Not found (the Act provides for contractor categorisation by regulation; no lift-specific licensing found)
Laws, codes and standards
- Maldives Building Act (2017) — Construction Act (Act No. 4/2017)Mandatory · Act No. 4/2017, gazetted 23 April 2017, in force six months after publication · People's Majlis
- Construction Administration Regulation (2019) — Construction Administration RegulationMandatory · Made under the Construction Act; gazetted and in force 11 March 2019 · Ministry responsible for construction
- Hulhumalé Phase 2 Planning and Development Guidelines (2024) — Hulhumalé Phase 2 Planning and Development GuidelinesMandatory · Development conditions set by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) for plots it allocates in Hulhumalé Phase 2; not a national regulation · Housing Development Corporation (HDC)
Lift associations and bodies
- Housing Development Corporation (HDC)
- Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
- Maldives Standards and Metrology Institute (MSMI)
Last verified 2026-10-23. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.