UAE, in collaboration with Muizzu administration, begins blacklisting Maldivians who express opposition to Eagle Hills project

The United Arab Emirates has begun blacklisting Maldivian citizens who express dissent on social media regarding a secret investment deal struck between President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration and the Abu Dhabi-based firm, Eagle Hills.

A reliable source has informed RaajjeMV that the UAE government has requested the Muizzu administration to provide information regarding 15 Maldivian nationals.

"They (the UAE) have requested the Maldivian government to provide further information regarding 15 Maldivian nationals," said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Widespread public concern has erupted across the Maldives following the sudden revelation that 500 hectares of land in Ras Male'—reclaimed using taxpayer funds under the guise of solving the national housing crisis—has been handed over to an Abu Dhabi-based company. The news has sparked a wave of indignation on social media, with many citizens expressing their outrage over the deal. Those voicing their discontent include prominent political figures, religious scholars, and Members of Parliament, alongside a significant cross-section of the general public.

Numerous international media outlets, citing the Abu Dhabi-based company, have reported that the firm intends to invest $12 billion into this project.

The company stated that the project, spanning 5.2 million square meters in Ras Male'—located approximately 20 minutes from the capital, Male'—is designed as a versatile, mixed-use development.

Under this opaque deal, Mohamed Alabbar—the head of Eagle Hills and Emaar Properties—stated that there is a possibility for Emaar to participate in the project. The development is set to be divided into five districts and will reportedly include thousands of residential units, hotels, resorts, and retail spaces, as well as schools, clinics, a water park, and a marina. The company also confirmed that these properties will be available for foreign ownership.

While the Abu Dhabi-based firm states it is investing $12 billion into the project, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development Dr. Abdulla Muththalib and Finance Minister Hassan Zareer maintain that the project is valued at $20 billion. A significant discrepancy of $8 billion has been noted between the figures disclosed by the two parties.

Eagle Hills stated that the primary objective of the Ras Male' project is to transform the Maldives' tourism model. Rather than short stays at a single resort, the project aims to create an environment where wealthy families and retirees from the Gulf, Europe, and India can reside in the Maldives for extended periods, spanning several weeks or months.

Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib stated that upon completion of all phases, the $20 billion project is expected to attract an additional one million tourists annually, generating $2 billion in yearly tourism revenue. While the Maldivian government has provided land for the development, Muththalib noted that the state received no upfront payment at the time the project agreement was signed.

Under this project, Eagle Hills has announced that the first phase will involve an investment of $500 million to construct 5,000 social housing units. Reports indicate that these costs will be recouped from the government's future revenue generated by the project.

While the Abu Dhabi-based company estimates that the project will create over 40,000 jobs, the government has projected a higher figure of 54,000. Despite these significant discrepancies in employment forecasts, officials have also claimed the initiative will provide a substantial boost to the Maldives' tax revenue. Alabbar stated that the project will be developed in phases, contingent upon market demand. Consequently, it remains unclear when the economic benefits promised by the government will actually be realized.

Critics of the project have raised concerns over its lack of transparency, warning that it could lead to a vast area of the Maldives falling under indefinite foreign control. Furthermore, there are growing apprehensions that the project could facilitate foreign settlement in the country, potentially paving the way for the introduction of other religions in the Maldives.

Efforts to obtain a comment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding reports that Maldivian citizens expressing concerns over the project are being blacklisted in coordination with the Muizzu administration have so far been unsuccessful.