Maldives, April 10 -- Economic growth in Maldives is expected to slow sharply in 2026 as the conflict in the Middle East weighs on tourism, energy prices, and fiscal and external buffers, according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2026, released today by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).ADB forecasts growth at 1.0% in 2026 down from 5.4% in 2025, before recovering to 3.0% in 2027 as tourism rebounds and oil prices normalize, while fiscal consolidation remains underway. Inflation is seen rising to 5.0% in 2026, driven by higher import costs. In 2025, tourist arrivals rose by 10%, boosted by the opening of the new Male airport terminal. However, tourists stayed fewer nights on average than in the previous year. Despite the conflic...