Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has announced that land reclamation works at Ras Malé have reached a key milestone, with 41 hectares successfully reclaimed at Site A, representing 30 per cent progress of that phase of the project.

According to MACL, reclamation works at Site A began on 1 December 2025, with 41 hectares reclaimed out of the 137.5 hectares planned for the site. The work is being carried out using Cristóbal Colón, one of the world’s largest Trailer Suction Hopper Dredgers, which has a capacity of 46,000 cubic metres and is operated by Jan De Nul.

The Ras Malé reclamation project is one of the country’s largest land development initiatives, with a total of 1,009 hectares of land to be reclaimed upon completion. MACL said reclamation activities are being undertaken by three parties, with progress accelerating following the deployment of additional dredgers to the project site.

The Government has stated that the introduction of large-scale dredging equipment has significantly increased the pace of work, allowing reclamation to advance more rapidly than initially planned. MACL has noted that works are progressing steadily, supported by the additional dredging capacity mobilised for the project.

Once reclamation is completed, the Government plans to move forward with the Ras Malé Master Plan, which includes housing developments and broader economic projects. Preparatory work for the planned Eco-City development at Ras Malé began in 2023, with the reclaimed land expected to support long-term urban expansion and economic activity.