The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has announced major strides in the Ras Malé development project, with over 52 hectares of land successfully reclaimed, marking a key milestone in the government’s ambitious urban expansion and housing initiative.
The Ras Malé project, a flagship undertaking of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration, is aimed at alleviating the Maldives’ long-standing housing crisis through large-scale land reclamation in the Fushidhiggaru Falhu lagoon.
According to HDC, as of March 9, reclamation work has been completed across four zones—Areas D, F, G, and L—covering a total of 52.15 hectares. An additional 29 hectares have also been reclaimed in Area J, bringing the cumulative progress to over 81 hectares. The broader goal is to reclaim a total of 1,153 hectares from the lagoon, with 378 hectares targeted from the current active zones.
Reclamation work on Ras Malé began on December 18, 2023, and is being executed in 12 designated sections across the lagoon. The project is progressing steadily, with HDC implementing environmental mitigation strategies, including coral relocation, to minimize ecological disruption.
President Dr Muizzu has stressed the urgency of accelerating the project timeline. In recent public statements, he highlighted plans to introduce more dredgers and heavy machinery next year, potentially doubling or tripling the pace of reclamation. The government is also exploring partnerships with additional contractors to further expedite the work.
Beyond the physical transformation of the lagoon, Ras Malé represents a larger vision of sustainable urban development. The project includes plans to develop over 65,000 housing units, positioning it as a cornerstone of the administration’s strategy to address population density and provide long-term housing solutions.
With the latest updates, the Ras Malé initiative continues to demonstrate the government’s commitment to delivering large-scale infrastructure solutions that respond to the Maldives’ growing housing needs, while also promoting environmental stewardship and strategic urban planning.
