Land reclamation for the planned airport in Sh. Milandhoo has been completed within just over a month, marking a significant step forward in the island’s long-awaited infrastructure project.
President Mohamed Muizzu announced the milestone in a post on social media, stating that reclamation works began in early April and were completed on May 4. A total of 21 hectares of land was reclaimed within 31 days.
Once additional vegetation clearance is completed, the overall project area is expected to reach approximately 25.9 hectares. The reclamation process involved the placement of over 1.13 million cubic metres of material.
The project is being carried out by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), which was assigned both the airport and associated harbour development works. Dredging operations were conducted using the “Queen of the Netherlands,” a high-capacity vessel capable of handling large-scale reclamation.
The planned airport has been designed to maximise land use efficiency, incorporating the runway alongside proposed internal and external road networks as part of broader development plans for the island.
Authorities have also indicated that the existing harbour will be temporarily relocated to facilitate construction, with provisions already included in the project’s design.
The initiative forms part of the government’s commitment to establish an airport in Milandhoo, an island with a population exceeding 2,700. Officials have previously stated that the project is intended to improve connectivity and support long-term development in Shaviyani Atoll.
With reclamation now complete, the project is expected to move into its next phase, bringing the airport closer to reality for residents of Milandhoo and surrounding islands.
