MRC's primary objective is to provide humanitarian aid, prevent and alleviate human suffering. It is the 187th member of the world’s largest humanitarian movement - the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – which every year helps millions of people whose lives have been devastated by crises or conflict.

Since its establishment in 2009, MRC has been at the forefront of humanitarian work in the Maldives, growing into the country's largest humanitarian organization and earning the trust of communities, public authorities, and partners across the country. Through its auxiliary role alongside public authorities, MRC has built and sustained meaningful partnerships that have strengthened its ability to serve those who need it most. At the heart of everything MRC does is a commitment to delivering humanitarian services impartially, neutrally, and independently ensuring that every person, regardless of who they are or where they come from, receives the care and support they deserve.

MRC delivers humanitarian Programmes and services that reach communities across the Maldives, from emergency response and disaster preparedness, to community First Aid as well as youth empowerment and community engagement initiatives that are investing in the next generation of humanitarian leaders. MRC's health and wellbeing Programmes and migrant support services place particular emphasis on reaching vulnerable populations and hard-to-reach communities ensuring that the elderly, migrants, and those most at risk are not left behind. All of MRC's work, across every Programme, every service, and every community is guided by its Strategic Plan 2019–2030 and the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

MRC's Units are the organization's presence on the ground, community-based teams of trained volunteers and members with the skills, knowledge, and commitment to deliver humanitarian services in their communities. MRC continuously invests in strengthening these teams, enhancing existing skills, deepening knowledge, and building the networks that allow institutions across sectors to come together and work more effectively at community level. This reflects MRC's commitment to decentralization, developing the autonomy of its Units so that humanitarian services are not delivered from a distance, but from within the communities they serve. Each island has its own unique vulnerabilities and challenges, and it is those who live there who understand it best.

Through its Programmes and services, MRC places people at the centre of its humanitarian work ensuring that the needs of vulnerable and affected communities are actively prioritized. MRC reaches people with life-saving information before emergencies strike, fosters social cohesion and inclusion across communities, and creates meaningful pathways for migrants to participate alongside Maldivians as volunteers. MRC also advocates with relevant authorities to remove barriers and build an enabling environment where no one is left behind. Central to this is the belief that the protection of human rights and dignity in peacetime is what makes it possible to safeguard them during crises and it is a commitment the organization upholds without compromise.