President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said around 500 hectares of land have been reclaimed under the Rasmalé project, one of the largest housing initiatives undertaken by the current Administration.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, the President said reclamation is being carried out across 11 sites, with a total of 1,009 hectares to be reclaimed, adding that work is progressing 24 hours a day using three dredgers, including two of the world’s largest, as the Government aims to complete reclamation by the end of April.

He said planning and infrastructure works are already underway alongside reclamation, noting that the Government aims to complete land reclamation ahead of deadlines for housing applications, while also confirming that technical studies are ongoing to establish connectivity between Rasmalé and Malé, with a decision to be made following the completion of assessments.

The project forms part of the Government’s ‘Housing for All’ policy, under which 15,000 housing plots will be allocated to Malé residents, while the broader Rasmalé development is expected to deliver up to 65,000 housing units to provide a long-term solution to housing challenges in the Greater Malé Region. The project initially commenced on December 18, 2023 and later awarded to Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL)last year to accelerate implementation.