Ras Malé in Numbers: Every Official Figure in One Place

Ras Malé's numbers come from many places: presidential speeches, HDC releases, contracts, parliamentary answers and news reports. They're often quoted without a date, and some of them contradict each other. This page collects the figures that have been published, each with its date and source, so you can see what's known and how it has changed. Where figures conflict, we show both. We update this page as new figures appear. For the latest progress figure on its own, see the progress tracker.

The site

Why the difference? The 1,153-hectare figure is the whole lagoon, while about 1,009 hectares is the part to be turned into land. The 1,150 and 1,100 figures appear to describe the planned land in round numbers. Published site areas add up to about 1,010 hectares without Site K, whose area hasn't been published.

For scale

• Malé island: about 1.95 km², or 195 ha. Ras Malé's planned land is about five times bigger.
• Hulhumalé, Phases 1 and 2: about 445 ha. Ras Malé is a little over twice the size.
• Gulhifalhu: about 150 ha, reclaimed 2020–2024. Ras Malé is more than six times bigger.

Official statements often say Ras Malé is "nearly three times" the two phases of Hulhumalé. That comparison uses the whole 1,153-hectare lagoon.

Reclamation progress

Percentages from the President haven't come with hectare figures, and we haven't found an independent survey.

Site by site

• Site J: 29 ha, complete (Nov 2025).
• Site A: 137.5 ha, 84.36% (Feb 2026).
• Sites D, F, G and L: 395 ha combined, 100.6 ha reclaimed (Aug 2025); Site L 25.53% (Nov 2025).
• Site C: 190 ha, 20.09% (Nov 2025).
• Site E: 75 ha, no published figure.
• Sites B, H and I: 183.5 ha combined, no published figure.
• Site K: area not published.

More in Ras Malé site by site.

Homes and people

More in housing in Ras Malé.

Contractors and costs

• Launch budget: MVR 1.4 billion over three years, including MVR 400 million for 2024, which Parliament removed (Dec 2023 to Mar 2024).
• Minister's estimate: at least US$500 million to US$700 million to reclaim about 1,100 ha (2024).
• CMC: 29 ha; settlement of US$21 million (Jan 2025).
• CRCC: US$265.5 million contract for 352 ha in 18 months (July 2024); ended July 2025; US$13.2 million advance; US$9.4 million claim accepted, against a US$6.7 million valuation (Aug 2026).
• CHEC: Sites C and E, 265 ha (Aug 2025).
• MACL: Site A, 137.5 ha (from Dec 2025).
• HDC loan: amount and lender not disclosed.

More in who pays for Ras Malé.

Money for buyers and builders

• BML home construction loans: 5% equity for projects up to MVR 3 million, 20% above (from April 2026).
• Hiyaavehi construction loans: 5% a year, up to 25 years, including an 18-month grace period. Caps are MVR 1 million on the atolls, MVR 3 million in cities and MVR 6 million in the Malé area (from 2025).
• Corporate resident visa: US$250,000 investment or five-year deposit, valid five years, MVR 15,000 fee.
• Leases for foreign buyers: up to 99 years, with a 4% fee on each transfer (Eagle Hills terms).

The ships

• Cristóbal Colón (Jan De Nul, for MACL): 46,000 m³ per load.
• Jun Yang 1 (CHEC): 21,000 m³ per load.
• MTCC: a dredger three times the size of its 3,700 m³ Mahaa Jarraafu, due by the end of 2026.

The environment

• Corals relocated: 21,641 (2025).
• Sand permits: two areas west of Maafushi and one near Ithaafushi, enough for 562 ha, six-month permits.

The Eagle Hills deal

Timelines

• Reclamation target: end of 2026 (Sept 2026). Earlier targets: within months of launch (2023), March–April 2026 (Nov 2025), early 2026 (Dec 2025).
• Wider city: about 10 years (Sept 2026).
• Master plan: final plan due June 2026 under the brief; not published as of Oct 2026.
• Transport master plan: expressions of interest closed 31 Dec 2025; no award found.

Links and transport

• Speedboat from Malé: about 17 minutes (launch reporting, Dec 2023).
• Undersea tunnel: announced by the President in January 2024, with feasibility work said to be under way. No route or cost published.
• Transport master plan: project TES/2025/C-007, put out to consultants in December 2025.
• Airstrip: planned near the lagoon, according to HDC. No construction announced.

Using these figures

If you quote a Ras Malé figure, quote its date and source too, because many have changed several times. When you see a figure without a date, check it against this page. Spot one we've missed, or a newer one? Tell us, and we'll add it.