The Government has officially inaugurated Maafaru International Airport following major development upgrades. 

The inauguration of the airport was marked with the arrival of a widebody aircraft from national carrier Maldivian, which was welcomed with a ceremonial water salute.

Maafaru International Airport was developed with support from the United Arab Emirates through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), with the project carried out in two phases. The ADFD contributed over USD 76 million toward the successful completion of both phases of the project.

In the first phase, key infrastructure was established, including a 2,200-meter runway, a passenger terminal, and a VIP lounge. Additional facilities such as a fire and rescue station, an air traffic control tower, and a passenger jetty were also constructed. Work on the airport began on January 23, and commercial operations commenced on December 1.

The second phase focused on enhancing the airport’s capacity. This included extending the runway by 650 meters to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777-ER3, implementing beach protection measures, and upgrading the runway’s airfield lighting system.

The inaugural ceremony at Maafaru International Airport was attended by high-level officials, including Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Construction, Housing, and Infrastructure Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, UAE Ambassador to the Maldives Sheikh Rahma Abdulrahman Al-Shamsi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) H.E. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, and Island Aviation Managing Director Ibrahim Iyas.

Maafaru International Airport is operated by Island Aviation Services Limited, which plans to further enhance the airport’s facilities. Upcoming developments include upgrading the passenger terminal services, establishing a seaplane hub, expanding the capacity of the fuel farm, and launching direct international passenger flight operations soon.