An Australian man is in hospital after being stabbed by suspected extremists in the Maldives.

The three suspects were on Thursday arrested by police on the island of Hulhumale in the south of the Indian Ocean archipelago nation.

The stabbing attack occurred in the Maldives. Credit:iStock

The arrests come after the 44-year-old Australian man, along with two Chinese nationals, were stabbed in Hulhumale on Tuesday night.

The three victims were injured, but remain in a stable condition.