The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has announced that as of April 13, 2025, a total of 101 hectares of land has been reclaimed at Fushidhiggaru Falhu under the Ras Malé project.

The Ras Malé project, described as the Maldives' first eco-city development, aims to provide a long-term solution to the housing challenges in the Greater Malé area. In total, 1,009 hectares of land will be reclaimed for the project, making it the largest housing and urban development initiative ever undertaken in the Maldives.

The 101 hectares of land reclaimed so far is more than half the size of Hulhumalé Phase One. The reclaimed areas include 29 hectares at Site J, awarded to Capital Marine and Civil Construction Company Private Limited, and 72 hectares across Sites D, F, G, and L, part of the 378 hectares awarded to Mohan Mutha Exports Private Limited.

Alongside land reclamation, beach protection works are underway. To enhance resilience against climate change and coastal erosion, the reclaimed land in Ras Malé has been elevated to 2.5 meters above sea level, which is 0.5 meters higher than the elevation of Hulhumalé. The city is designed to accommodate a population of over 240,000.

The Government plans to develop Ras Malé as an eco-city, with 11,000 land plots and more than 26,000 flats. In addition to housing, the project will include areas designated for business activities, industrial use, and tourism development.

Upon completion, Ras Malé will cover a land area three times the size of Hulhumalé, including Hulhumalé Phase Two, and is expected to provide a permanent solution to the housing shortage in the Greater Malé Region.