Budget 2026: MVR 2.6 billion for military spending

Nov 1, 2025, 7:44 AM
Artwork: Ismail Imdhad/ Adhadhu

Artwork: Ismail Imdhad/ Adhadhu

The government has allocated four percent of the total budget for next year to be spent on military expenditure.

The proposed budget for 2026 estimates military defense spending at MVR 2.8 billion. This is an increase of MVR 456 million.

This includes the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) budget and the PSIP budget for the establishment of defense infrastructure.

The PSIP budget includes MVR 247 million for defense expenditure next year. This year’s PSIP budget includes MVR 85 million for defense expenditure.

MNDF budget allocation for 2026

  • Executive and Administrative Services - MVR 377 million (MVR 440 million in 2025)
  • Combat and Maneuver Forces - MVR 910 million (MVR 769 million in 2025)
  • Logistic support services - MVR 1.5 billion (MVR 1.2 billion in 2025)
  • Functional Commands - MVR 2 million (MVR. 4.2 million in 2025)
  • Combatant Commands - MVR 78 million (MVR 50 million in 2025)

President Mohamed Muizzu's government has boosted military spending. These include the operational cost of drones, tankers and ships.

The government refuses to disclose the spending on purchasing military drones and other similar weapons and equipment.

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