The Urban Development Bill has been ratified.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu ratified the Urban Development Bill on Monday.

The Urban Development Bill was passed by the People’s Majlis during the 55th session of the 20th parliamentary sitting held on November 27.

According to the President’s Office, the main purpose of the bill is to establish a healthy legal framework for designating urban areas in the Maldives and regulating the development of such areas. It aims to define urban areas, zones, categories, and land use, as well as set basic standards for developing and managing urban areas. The bill also outlines procedures for monitoring and taking action on development projects in urban areas.

Under the Urban Development Act, the president, with the advice of his Cabinet of Ministers, will determine the national policy for designating urban areas and developing and managing urban areas in the Maldives.

The responsibility for implementing these policies has been assigned to the government ministry currently in charge of implementing urban development policies. At present, this is the Ministry of Housing, Land, and Urban Development.

With the enactment of the law, an "Urban Development Authority" will be established as a government agency to prepare Urban Area Development Master Plans for designated urban areas, issue development permits to developers of such areas, and coordinate development activities carried out in these areas. The authority will operate under the ministry responsible for implementing urban development policies at the time.

Following the president's ratification of the Urban Development Bill on Monday, the law has been published in the government gazette. The law will come into effect six months from the date of its ratification and publication in the government gazette.