According to petwithsupplies, the largest cities in Maldives are the capital city of Male, Addu City and Fuvahmulah City. Male is the most populous and most developed city in the country, located at the southern edge of North Male Atoll. It is home to around 130,000 people, making it one of the most densely populated cities in South Asia. The city is a major commercial hub with a deepwater harbor that serves as a gateway for international trade and tourism. It also serves as an important financial center with several banks, including state-owned banks such as Bank of Maldives and Maldives Islamic Bank. The main airport serving Male is Velana International Airport (VIA), which connects the city to other parts of the world. Addu City is located at the southernmost point of Maldives and is home to around 30,000 people. It was established in 1960 following a successful rebellion against British colonial rule by local citizens known as ‘Gan People’. Addu City boasts some of the best beaches in Maldives along with its unique culture that makes it an attractive tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. The main airport serving Addu City is Gan International Airport (GAN), which connects it to other parts of Maldives as well as other countries across South Asia and beyond. Fuvahmulah City is located on an island off the coast of South Huvadhu Atoll and has a population of around 15,000 people. The island was first colonized by Arab traders in 10th century AD, who brought Islam to this region along with their trading activities. Fuvahmulah has some beautiful beaches for visitors to enjoy and also boasts some unique cultural features such as its traditional fishing methods used by locals for centuries now. The main airport serving Fuvahmulah City is Kooddoo International Airport (KDO), which connects it to other parts of Maldives as well as other countries across South Asia and beyond. In 2008, the Maldives was a small, developing country in the Indian Ocean. It had a population of around 350,000 people and an area of just over 300 square kilometers. Despite its small size, the Maldives had significant geopolitical significance due to its strategic location. In 2008, the Maldives was a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and held observer status at the United Nations. The Maldives was also part of a number of international agreements and treaties such as the Convention on the Law of the Sea and UNCLOS. Economically speaking, in 2008, tourism accounted for 28% of GDP with fishing making up another 17%. The remaining 55% came from services such as construction and transportation. The country’s main trading partners were India and Sri Lanka with whom it had strong cultural ties due to their shared history as part of British India. Other trading partners included Singapore and Thailand with whom it conducted trade through air transport links established in 2006. The year 2008 saw the election of President Mohamed Nasheed who led his party, MDP (Maldivian Democratic Party) to victory over incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s DRP (Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party). This marked a shift in political power away from Gayoom who had been in power since 1978. Under Nasheed’s presidency there were significant reforms including improvements to human rights protections and freedom of speech as well as moves towards greater transparency in government decision-making processes. Check payhelpcenter for Maldives in 2008.