"Even after selling off 500 hectares, president claims he will not yield a single inch of this land."
8 އޮކްޓޯބަރު 2026 | ބުރާސްފަތި 11:16The government is facing widespread criticism over a lack of transparency following the decision to lease 500 hectares of land to a foreign company for 99 years under the Ras Male' project. A constitutional case has been filed with the Supreme Court seeking to nullify the agreement, asserting that the deal violates the legal framework of the Maldives.
Hussain Ziyad, Member of Parliament for the Vaikaradhoo constituency. | raajjemv
Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad has criticized the government, stating that despite the decision to lease 500 hectares of reclaimed land from the Ras Male' project to Abu Dhabi’s Eagle Hills for 99 years, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu continues to maintain that not a single inch of Maldivian soil will be surrendered. The lawmaker remarked that the administration must now clarify exactly how many inches are contained within those 500 hectares.
Speaking during RaajjeTV’s special coverage titled "Dhivehinge Bin Dhivehinnah," MP Ziyad stated that it is contradictory to claim not a single inch of land has been surrendered after already giving up 500 hectares of Maldivian territory.
"We warned that they were attempting to sell off land from here. At the time, the President repeatedly insisted that no land would be sold, nor leased, and that not a single inch would be surrendered. I do not know how many inches are in 500 hectares, but after giving away 500 hectares, they claim these people are bringing development. We must now consider whether this sale is being justified by the fact that 200 million was not allocated from the budget on that day."Hussain Ziyad
In addition to MP Ziyad, a growing number of people are expressing serious concerns regarding this matter. While the Maldivian government has signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi’s renowned Eagle Hills company to execute this massive $20 billion project—one of the largest foreign investments proposed in Maldivian history—the administration is facing heavy criticism from the public over what many describe as a lack of transparency in its policies.
A constitutional case has been filed with the Supreme Court seeking the termination of the agreement to proceed with this project. The petition contends that under Article 250 of the Constitution, the lease or alienation of state property must be conducted within a specific legal framework, and that there is currently no law in the Maldives that permits the leasing of state land to a foreign entity for a period of 99 years.
