President Muizzu: Only Maldivians and Arab Muslims to live in Rasmalé; Israelis banned from buying property

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that only Maldivian citizens and Arab Muslims will be permitted to reside in the new Rasmalé development, and that Israeli citizens will be legally barred from purchasing any property there. Speaking on 'The Pulses' podcast produced by the President's Office, Muizzu stated that interest in buying property in Rasmalé is currently coming almost exclusively from Arab countries in the Middle East. He dismissed concerns about Israeli citizens gaining access through dual passports as baseless, asserting that the law will prevent any Israeli national from acquiring land or flats in the city. The comments come amid growing public unease following remarks by Mohammed Alabbar, the head of Eagle Hills – the company to which a large portion of Rasmalé has been allocated. When asked whether Eagle Hills would assist in rebuilding Gaza after the recent war, Alabbar was quoted as saying he is not a charity worker and that each party must solve its own problems, further fueling public disquiet.