Ras Malé Dredging Reaches 500 Hectares, Accelerating 'Housing for All'

The government's landmark Ras Malé dredging project has now reclaimed over 500 hectares of land, a major step in creating the nation's largest-ever housing development. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu confirmed the milestone during his weekly press conference, stating that work is progressing rapidly across 11 sites. The project is central to the government's 'Housing for All' pledge, utilizing three advanced dredgers, including two of the world's largest, operating around the clock. The goal is to complete the full 1,009 hectares of reclamation by April. "We are committed to keeping our promises. Unlike the past, we will complete the dredging before opening applications for housing plots," President Muizzu emphasized. Launched in December 2023 and fast-tracked under a contract with the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), the Ras Malé development is designed as a long-term solution to the nation's critical housing shortage. The initial phase will allocate 15,000 land plots to residents of Malé City under a new 'Family Housing' programme, with the ultimate aim of providing 65,000 homes. In a further update, President Muizzu revealed that technical surveys are now underway to establish a permanent transport link between the new city of Ras Malé and the capital.