Ras Malé FAQ: Common Questions, Answered

These are the questions we're asked most about Ras Malé, with short answers. Each one links to a fuller guide, and every figure comes from an official statement or published report, listed at the end. Where sources disagree, we say so. For a longer introduction, start with What is Ras Malé?

The basics

What is Ras Malé?

Ras Malé is a new city the Maldivian government is building on land reclaimed from the sea. It is the largest land reclamation project the country has attempted. The government's main aim is to ease the shortage of housing in the crowded capital region, and it has also promoted the city as an eco-city built on higher, safer ground.

Where is it?

It is being built in Fushidhiggaru lagoon (Fushidhiggaru Falhu), south of Malé in South Malé Atoll, close to the inhabited island of Gulhi. Administratively, it is in Kaafu Atoll, the same atoll as the capital. See where Ras Malé is for maps and distances.

How do you spell it?

You'll see Ras Malé, Rasmalé, Rasmale' and Rasmale. They all refer to the same project. We use Ras Malé, with the accent, as it matches the spelling of Malé.

How big will it be?

The planned land area is usually given as about 1,009 hectares, inside a lagoon of about 1,153 hectares. The President has also described the finished area as about 1,100 hectares. Either way, that's around five times the size of Malé island, which covers about 1.95 square kilometres. Our page Ras Malé in numbers lists every published figure.

Who is building it?

The state-owned Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is responsible for making the land. It hires dredging contractors to do the work. Several have been involved, including CMC, CRCC, CHEC and the state-owned airports company MACL. See who has built Ras Malé so far.

Why is the government building it?

Because Greater Malé has run out of room. Malé island covers about 1.95 square kilometres, and at the 2022 census the capital's administrative area had 211,908 people, making it one of the most crowded cities in the world. Rents are high and many families share small homes. Ras Malé is meant to provide land for tens of thousands of new homes close to the capital.

How is it different from Hulhumalé?

Hulhumalé, next to the airport, is the reclaimed city built before Ras Malé. It covers about 445 hectares in two phases and had 65,714 residents at the 2022 census. Ras Malé's planned land is more than twice as large, and it is still being reclaimed. See Ras Malé vs Hulhumalé.

Progress and timing

How far has the work got?

In September 2026, President Mohamed Muizzu said about 70% of the land had been reclaimed. That was up from about 60% in late June. Our progress tracker keeps the official figures, each with its date and source.

When will it be finished?

The government expects reclamation to be finished by the end of 2026. That only creates the ground. Roads, power, water, sewerage, homes and services come next, and the government's own estimate for developing the wider city is about 10 years. See when Ras Malé will be finished.

Why has it been delayed?

Earlier targets, first early 2026 and then March or April 2026, were missed. The main reasons reported were changes of contractor, small dredgers in the early stages, and a slowdown in mid-2026 that the President blamed on fuel costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

How is the land made?

Dredgers suck sand from the seabed elsewhere in the atoll and pump it into the lagoon, inside walls that hold it in place. The ground is then raised, left to settle and protected along the shore. Our guide to how land reclamation works explains each step.

How high will it be?

HDC says the land is being raised to about 2 metres above sea level at the edges and 3 metres at the centre. Most natural islands in the Maldives are only about a metre above the sea, which is why the government describes the project as climate adaptation.

Housing

How many homes will there be?

The government's long-term target is 65,000 homes, a mix of land plots and flats. Population goals in official documents range from about 150,000 to more than 300,000 people.

Who will get them?

The first homes are being allocated through the government's Housing for All scheme, which offers 15,000 land plots of 1,250 square feet, many of them in Ras Malé, and 7,900 flats across Greater Malé. See our guide to housing in Ras Malé.

Who decides who gets a plot or flat?

The Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure runs Housing for All. Applicants are vetted before the lists are published, and the lists are to say which project each recipient has been assigned to.

Can I still apply?

Not in the first round. Applications closed in June 2026 with 58,505 applications: 22,575 for plots and 35,930 for flats. The government hasn't announced a second round.

When will plots be handed over?

The President said in June 2026 that recipient lists for plots and flats would be published before the end of 2026. Plots can't be handed over until the land is ready, and the government has said its housing units should be completed by mid-2028.

Buying and investing

Can foreigners buy property in Ras Malé?

Not freehold. The constitution doesn't allow foreigners to own land in the Maldives, but land can be leased for up to 99 years. Foreign buyers will be able to lease homes in the planned Eagle Hills waterfront. See buying property in Ras Malé.

Is there a limit on foreign buyers?

Yes. In October 2026, the President said buyers from any single country would be limited to 25% of the properties in the waterfront, that Israeli citizens would be barred, and that there would be no limit for Maldivians. These rules are to be set out in a Real Estate Bill.

How much will property cost?

No price list has been published. The President has given an example of about US$600,000 for a 1,000-square-foot property in the waterfront. Prices for government plots and flats under Housing for All are set separately.

Does buying give you residency?

Not automatically. The main investor route today is the corporate resident visa, which needs US$250,000. A separate residency-by-investment scheme, the Pearl Residence, has been announced but not yet put into law.

The Eagle Hills waterfront

What is the Eagle Hills deal?

On 21 September 2026, the government signed commercial terms with Abu Dhabi developer Eagle Hills for a waterfront and marina on about 500 hectares of Ras Malé, with hotels, branded residences, a marina, shops and public spaces. The full agreement is still to be signed. See our Eagle Hills deal explainer.

How much is it worth?

Reports give a first phase of about US$12 billion and a total programme of up to US$20 billion. The finance minister says it will bring the state more than US$11 billion over 10 years. The government says there are no tax breaks, state loans or guarantees.

Why is it controversial?

Opposition leaders have objected to the secrecy of the agreement, the lack of an upfront payment, its location near the capital and, in one case, the project itself. The government says it is lawful and will benefit Maldivians.

Visiting and getting there

Can I visit Ras Malé?

Not yet. It is an active construction site with no public access. You can see the area from boats travelling in South Malé Atoll, and from nearby islands such as Gulhi.

How far is it from Malé?

At the launch, the site was described as about 17 minutes by speedboat from Malé.

How will people get there?

Express ferries, an undersea tunnel and an airstrip have all been suggested, but none has been decided. The government has invited consultants to prepare a transport master plan. See our report on the transport plan.

What is there to see nearby?

The local islands of Gulhi, Guraidhoo and Maafushi are a short boat ride away, with guesthouses, beaches and snorkelling. See local islands near Ras Malé.

The environment

Is Ras Malé really an eco-city?

The government has promised a zero-carbon city running on renewable energy, with clean transport. No master plan has been published, so those are still goals. See Ras Malé's eco-city plans.

What is it doing to the sea?

Reclaiming a lagoon this size has effects on reefs, water quality and bait fishing. Sediment plumes from the dredging have been reported. See Ras Malé's environmental impact.

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