Government Plans New Headquarters to End Infrastructure Ministry Office Shortage

The Maldivian government has announced plans to construct a dedicated headquarters for the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, aiming to resolve a chronic shortage of state office space in the capital. The decision follows a devastating fire in December 2024 that destroyed three government buildings and damaged the Male’ City Council office. The disaster forced the Ministry to relocate temporarily to the Dharubaaruge convention centre in Male’. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Dr Abdulla Muththalib, confirmed that the project is currently in the planning stages with funds already being allocated. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has designated a 30,000-square-foot plot of land for the new facility. The need for a permanent base has become critical as the Ministry's mandate recently expanded to include public works, and its workforce has grown to over 600 employees. Minister Muththalib highlighted a systemic failure across successive administrations to provide adequate workspace, stating, "The problem is that there is no place to run government offices." To alleviate the overall strain on the capital, the government is working on another office building in Male’. Additionally, a 14-storey office complex is planned for Hulhumale’ to reduce the state's reliance on expensive private rentals. However, the Minister acknowledged that financial uncertainties have delayed the awarding of the contract for the Hulhumale’ project. The current crisis was exacerbated by the earlier demolition of the aged Huravee and Ghaazee buildings, which previously housed numerous state offices. This loss of infrastructure forced the government to lease private premises at a high cost to the taxpayer. The new headquarters will follow a successful model already implemented in Hulhumale’, where a single government building currently hosts three different ministries. The government also intends to eventually redevelop the Dharubaaruge site once the new Ministry headquarters are complete.