Land reclamation undertaken to facilitate the development of an airport in Haa Alifu Dhidhdhoo has been completed, adding 112 hectares of land to the island.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced the completion of the reclamation works in a social media post on Monday evening, outlining key details of the project.

The President stated that the dredger required for the project arrived at Dhidhdhoo on 3 January, with reclamation works commencing the following day. The project was completed on Monday, 23 February 2026, taking a total of 50 days from the start of operations.

A total of 5,492,089 cubic metres of sand were pumped during the reclamation process, resulting in a land area larger than the island’s existing footprint.

The establishment of an airport in Dhidhdhoo was a pledge made by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to residents during the 2023 presidential election. The reclamation project is intended to support the airport development and to provide additional land required for housing and other key infrastructure needs.

Dhidhdhoo is among the most populous and economically active islands in Haa Alifu Atoll. The additional land is expected to support planned development and help accommodate the island’s growing population.