The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has announced significant progress in the Ras Malé land reclamation project, confirming that 41 hectares have now been reclaimed at Site A — marking 30 percent completion of that phase.
MACL said reclamation at Site A began on 1 December 2025, with works advancing rapidly following the deployment of Cristóbal Colón, one of the world’s largest Trailer Suction Hopper Dredgers. Operated by Jan De Nul, the vessel has a capacity of 46,000 cubic metres, enabling large-scale dredging operations to proceed at an accelerated pace.
Site A is planned to span 137.5 hectares, forming part of the wider Ras Malé project, which will reclaim a total of 1,009 hectares, making it one of the largest land development initiatives in the Maldives.
According to MACL, the overall reclamation effort is being executed by three contracted parties, with progress increasing significantly after additional dredgers were mobilised to the site. Government officials have said the deployment of heavy dredging machinery has allowed the project to move ahead faster than initially projected.
Following the completion of reclamation, the Government intends to begin implementing the Ras Malé Master Plan, which includes major housing components and large-scale economic developments. Preparatory work for the planned Eco-City development began in 2023, with Ras Malé expected to serve as a critical hub for future urban expansion and national economic growth.
MACL noted that reclamation works continue steadily and remain on schedule, reinforcing the project’s role as a transformative step in the Maldives’ long-term development vision.
