Manhattan Grand Hotel Opens in Hulhumalé After 15-Year Delay

The Manhattan Grand Hotel, a nine-story five-star hotel in Hulhumalé, officially opened last night, 15 years after construction first began. The hotel, located on Fitroon Magu in the completed Phase 1 area adjacent to the Venco site, was inaugurated by Finance Minister Hassan Zareer. Developed by the World of Business with 50% foreign investment, the hotel features 162 rooms across eight categories, cafés, restaurants, a conference hall, an outdoor swimming pool, a spa, a wellness center, and a fitness center. The project was originally started by STO in 2011 as a five-star hotel in collaboration with Radisson Blu but stalled. After failed attempts to sell the unfinished site, ownership was transferred to HDC in 2023, and a settlement agreement last year handed the work to the World of Business. The hotel also includes three and a half floors reserved for government purposes, housing a Media Village, a National Institute, and MNNU Medical College.