- published: 01 Jan 2013
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The Maldivian National Emblem consists of a coconut palm, a crescent, and two criss-crossing National Flags with the traditional Title of the State.
The depicted coconut palm represents the livelihood of the Nation according to Maldivian folklore and tradition. The inhabitants believe it to be the most beneficial tree to them as they utilize every part of the tree on various applications ranging from medicine to boat-building. The Crescent (a universal Islamic symbol) and its accompanying star embodies the Islamic faith of the State and its authority respectively.
The words of the scroll Ad-Dawlat Al-Mahaldheebiyya are written in the Arabic naskh style of script. They were used by Sultan AI-Ghazee Mohamed Thakurufaanu Al-Azam one of the most illustrious heroes of the nation. The title Ad-Dawlat Al-Mahaldheebiyya (Arabic: الدولة المحلديبية) means the "State of the Mahal Dibiyat", which is the name Ibn Battuta and other Mediaeval Arab travellers used to refer to the Maldives.
The Coat of Arms is a symbolic representation of the Maldivian Government and is used frequently in official documents (on the header right underneath the Bismillah) and other Governmental Representations.
Maldives (i/ˈmɒldaɪvz/ or /ˈmɒldiːvz/), (Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, Dhivehi Raa'je), officially Republic of Maldives (Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, Dhivehi Raa'jeyge Jumhooriyya), also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep Islands, between Minicoy Island and Chagos Archipelago. It stands in the Laccadive Sea, about 700 kilometres (430 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka and 400 kilometres (250 mi) south-west of India. During the colonial era, the Dutch referred to the country as "Maldivische Eilanden" in their documentation, while "Maldive Islands" is the anglicised version of the local name used by the British, which later came to be written "Maldives".
The archipelago is located on top of the Chagos-Maldives-Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean. Maldives also form a terrestrial ecoregion together with the Chagos and the Lakshadweep. The atolls of Maldives encompass a territory spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi), making it one of the world's most geographically dispersed countries. Its population of 328,536 (2012) inhabits 200 of its 1,192 islands. Maldives' capital and largest city Malé had a population of 103,693 in 2006. It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll, in the Kaafu Atoll. It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties were enthroned.