MDP National Congress passes resolution calling on government to hold a public referendum to gauge citizen sentiment regarding allocation of land in Ras Male' to Eagle Hills

The National Congress of the main opposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), has passed a resolution calling on the government to hold a public referendum regarding the allocation of 500 hectares of land from the Ras Male' project to the UAE-based company Eagle Hills. The resolution urges the administration to abide by the public's decision on the deal, which involves land reclaimed from the Fushidhiggaru Lagoon.

The resolution was passed with an overwhelming majority, receiving 56 votes in favor from the 57 members present at the 38th meeting of the MDP’s 4th National Council.

The resolution, proposed by Kolamaafushi constituency president Mahfooz Saeed and supported by Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir, states that a commercial terms agreement was signed on September 21, 2026, between the Maldivian government and UAE-based Eagle Hills to develop the "Maldives Waterfront and Marina" project in Ras Male'. The resolution further notes that 500 hectares of land in Ras Male' are to be allocated for the project on a 99-year lease. According to the document, this land is being granted without any acquisition cost and will remain exempt from rent throughout the duration of the lease.

The resolution highlights that the reclamation of Fushidhiggaru Lagoon for the development of Ras Male' was funded using public tax revenue. Consequently, it asserts that leasing a vast area of this land to a foreign entity for a long-term period—without any acquisition cost being paid to the state treasury—constitutes a betrayal of public funds.

Furthermore, the resolution details the grounds for believing that Eagle Hills was selected to undertake this project in violation of established legal procedures.

The resolution emphasizes that transactions involving state assets or the execution of projects without a competitive bidding process are permitted only under exceptional circumstances. It further notes that projects arising from unsolicited or private sector-initiated proposals may only be awarded in strict accordance with the procedures established under the State Finance Regulations.

The resolution outlines key requirements for conducting mandatory assessments under the State Procurement Regulations when awarding such projects.

The resolution states that under the State Finance Regulations, the government is mandated to disclose specific details regarding such projects. This includes their alignment with government development plans, their contribution to strategic objectives, the anticipated social impact and public benefit, the level of community necessity, and the project's overall role in national progress. Furthermore, the government is required to publish the scope of any proposals finalized under these regulations. However, the resolution alleges that the government failed to disclose the criteria used to select Eagle Hills, nor did it reveal the scope of the unsolicited proposal submitted by the company. Consequently, the transaction is being accused of bypassing established legal procedures and failing to meet regulatory requirements.

Furthermore, the statement noted that while the government maintains that the project will yield long-term benefits for the Maldives despite the lack of upfront financial gains, there is no clear indication of how the projected state revenue was calculated. It further highlighted that since there is no evidence of an assessment to determine if other investors could have executed the project more profitably, it appears that the state’s best interests may have been overlooked.

In light of these concerns, the MDP National Congress has passed a resolution calling on the government to hold a public referendum on the Ras Male' project and to abide by the people's decision. To ensure oversight, the party has decided on several measures, including monitoring government actions and holding the administration accountable through parliamentary processes led by MDP lawmakers. Furthermore, the MDP has committed to leading public awareness campaigns regarding the potential risks associated with the Eagle Hills agreement. Should the government fail to respond to these concerns, the party has resolved to initiate direct action. The MDP also expressed its intent to collaborate with other political parties, non-governmental organizations, and individual citizens who wish to join their efforts in this matter.

The MDP National Congress has also established a special committee to coordinate and oversee the implementation of all activities outlined in this resolution.