President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced the minimum investment thresholds and permitted economic activities for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the Maldives under the Special Economic Zones Act (Act No. 24/2014).

The announcement was made through Presidential Decree No. 1/2025 issued on January 12,2025 in the Government Gazette. 

The decree categorises SEZ activities into two types: strategic investments with a minimum requirement of USD 100 million and sustainable township development projects requiring investments of no less than USD 500 million.

Nine strategic investment areas were identified under the USD 100 million threshold:

a) Export-oriented manufacturing activities

b) Transhipment ports, international logistics, ports, airports, bulk breaking, bunkering and docking services

c) Universities, tertiary hospitals, specialty hospitals and world-class research and development facilities

d) World-class Information Communication Technology (ICT) parks and related facilities

e) International financial services and international trade centres

f) Renewable energy sector

g) Activities introducing new technologies currently unavailable in the Maldives

h) Food security sector

i) Gas exploration activities

For sustainable township development projects, the decree mandates a minimum of USD 500 million dedicated exclusively to sustainable township components.