Area Code 331 – Malé/Hulhulé/Aarah

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The area code 331 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the capital region of the Maldives, specifically serving the administrative districts of Malé, Hulhulé (the island hosting Velana International Airport), and the nearby island of Aarah. These islands form the core of the Maldivian capital metropolitan area, which is the political, economic, and transportation hub of the nation. The code is allocated under the national numbering plan of the Republic of Maldives, which follows the ITU-T E.164 international standard. As a geographic code, it is tied to the physical location of the fixed-line infrastructure, although some operators may use it for VoIP-based fixed services that are registered to addresses within this region.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For callers within the Maldives, the national significant number (NSN) for a fixed-line subscriber in this area consists of the three-digit area code 331 followed by a four-digit subscriber number (e.g., 331 XXXX). To place a local call from another part of the country, dial the full NSN: 0 331 XXXX. The leading 0 is the national trunk prefix.

For international callers, the Maldives country calling code is +960. Therefore, to reach a fixed line in Malé, Hulhulé, or Aarah from abroad, dial +960 331 XXXX. Note that the trunk prefix 0 is not used when dialing from outside the country. For example, a number written as +960 331 1234 would be dialed exactly as shown, omitting any additional leading zero.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the current numbering plan, there is no overlay code for the Malé region; the 331 code is exclusive to this geographic area. However, the Maldives has implemented mobile number portability, which allows subscribers to retain their mobile numbers when switching operators, but fixed-line numbers are generally not portable across different geographic regions. The Malé region, being the most densely populated and commercially active area, has a high demand for fixed-line services, and the 331 code is fully integrated into the national telecom infrastructure.

Practical Usage and Examples

When providing a fixed-line number in this area for international correspondence, it is standard practice to format it as +960 331 XXXX. For domestic purposes, the format 0331 XXXX is common. Always verify the subscriber number length, as some numbers may have been migrated to newer formats, but the standard remains four digits after the area code.