Petition calls for public inquiry into Ras Male' project!
4 ނޮވެމްބަރު 2026 | ބުދަ 17:41A petition has been submitted to the People’s Majlis seeking the public disclosure of the agreement to lease land to a foreign company under the Ras Male' project, alongside a call for independent legal and fiscal reviews. The petition further requests a public inquiry to address concerns regarding the project's total cost and projected state revenue, following which President Muizzu has assured that a copy of the agreement will be shared with the Parliament.
People's Majlis. | rayyithunge majlis
A petition has been submitted to the People’s Majlis calling for a public inquiry into the Ras Male' project before the government signs the final contract with Eagle Hills.
The petition, spearheaded by political and social activist Haleemath Zuhaira, calls for a general debate on the matter on the floor of the Parliament. It further demands the disclosure of the full details of the agreement, as well as the conduct of independent legal and fiscal reviews of the project.
The petition was submitted through the Parliament's e-petition system. It states that while a decision has been made to reclaim 500 hectares of land under the Ras Male' project and lease it to a foreign company for 99 years, the public has a right to know the specific details of this agreement. Haleemath Zuhaira noted that the petition is not an attack on the government or any individual, but rather an effort to ensure transparency in a project funded by public resources, in accordance with the right to information.
The government signed the commercial terms agreement for the "Maldives Waterfront and Marina" project with the UAE-based Eagle Hills company on September 21, 2026. The petition highlights conflicting reports regarding the total valuation of the project. While Eagle Hills has stated the project is valued at $20 billion, other reports have cited a figure of $12 billion. Meanwhile, government estimates suggest that state revenue from the project will range between $3.1 billion and $11 billion.
The petition submitted to Parliament outlines seven primary demands. Key among these are a live floor debate, a public inquiry by the relevant committee, and the full disclosure of all documents related to the agreement.
Furthermore, the petition requests an independent legal opinion to determine whether the agreement complies with Article 251 of the Constitution, as well as an independent valuation of the land and projected revenue. The petition also calls upon the Auditor General and the Anti-Corruption Commission to conduct a formal review and compile a report regarding the project.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that a complete copy of the agreement will be submitted to the relevant parliamentary committee. Furthermore, the President announced that a specialized bill concerning real estate tourism will be opened for public consultation. He also provided assurances that this project would not adversely affect housing opportunities specifically reserved for Maldivian citizens.
To qualify this petition as a "Special Petition" for debate on the parliament floor, a total of 2,100 signatures are required.
