Government Decides to Give One-Third of Rasmalé Land to Foreign Investor Alabbar, Bypassing Maldivians

Public criticism has erupted after the government decided to allocate 500 hectares of land in the Rasmalé project area to a foreign investor, Alabbar, without a tender or application process, while Maldivian citizens are still waiting for land allocation under strict conditions. The decision, reportedly made and signed, has raised concerns about national security, religious and social implications, as Alabbar is linked to Zionist Jewish groups. While Maldivians who applied for land from Rasmalé over a year ago are still awaiting clarity on eligibility and plot sizes, the government has fast-tracked a massive land grant to an investor seen by many as a friend of Zionist interests. This move has sparked outrage, with critics noting that the government now views those speaking against the Alabbar deal as enemies of the state, stifling freedom of expression. The decision contradicts earlier promises by the government, including the president's assurance that no Maldivian land would be given away for free or on lease, and has led to accusations of abandoning national and religious principles for financial gain.