With a population of around 2500 people, the livelihood of most families depend on fishing (notably yellow fin tuna) and tourism. And as the administrative capital of South Ari atoll, a significant fraction of the workforce are employed in public service. Mahibadhoo has also seen a surge in local tourism and the guesthouse business, in addition to the growing number of small businesses ranging from coffee shops to grocery stores. On January 12, 2020, a state-sponsored grouper farming project was launched in Mahibadhoo, led by the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture. The pilot project is part of the sustainable fisheries resource development project of the ministry, and is being funded by the World Bank.