Housing in Ras Malé: Land Plots, Flats and Who Can Apply

Ras Malé is being built mainly to house people. Greater Malé is short of land, rents are high, and many families share small, crowded homes. The government's answer is to reclaim about 1,009 hectares of Fushidhiggaru lagoon and use much of it for housing. This guide explains how that housing is meant to be shared out, who it's for, and what hasn't been decided yet. For the project as a whole, start with our guide What is Ras Malé?

How many homes will Ras Malé have?

The government's long-term figure is 65,000 homes in Ras Malé, counting both land plots and flats. Early descriptions spoke of building them over about 20 years, and gave a split of around 11,000 plots and 26,000 flats. More recent statements have put more weight on land plots:

• In November 2025, President Mohamed Muizzu said 25,000 land plots would come from Ras Malé, starting with 15,000 in the first round.
• Each plot in the current scheme is 1,250 square feet, enough for a family house.
• In January 2024, the Maldives and China signed a memorandum of understanding for 30,000 social housing units in Ras Malé. The Housing Minister said they would be built at the same time rather than in phases, but no financing terms were published.

These figures come from different announcements, and the government hasn't published a single plan showing how they fit together. Treat the 65,000 figure as a target, not a count of homes being built.

The Housing for All scheme

The first concrete step is the government's Housing for All policy (Boahiyaavahikan Enmenah), announced in November 2025. Its first programme, Family Housing (Aailee Boahiyaavahikan), offers 15,000 land plots in the Greater Malé area and Ras Malé, and 7,900 flats, which are mostly in Hulhumalé. The President has described the aim as a home for every Maldivian over 18 who doesn't have one.

Who the plots are for

The 15,000 plots are divided into categories. As published in June 2026:

• 7,000 for people registered in Malé from birth
• 2,000 for people who registered in Malé later
• 1,000 for people on the Malé registry who don't own property
• 3,000 for people from other islands who can prove they have lived in the capital region for more than 15 years
• 1,500 for families who hand back small plots on Malé's narrowest lanes in exchange
• 500 for people who couldn't inherit land because a parent died

Plots for long-term residents who aren't registered in Malé are to come from Ras Malé. The rules were widened during the application period. People whose husband or wife already owns a home can now apply on their own for a Ras Malé plot. People who received a shared plot under the earlier Binveriya scheme can apply for a plot of their own if all the joint owners agree to give up the shared one.

Who the flats are for

The 7,900 flats are split between Malé registrants, long-term residents from other islands, and 2,400 flats for priority groups. These include public servants, police and military staff, tourism, fisheries and taxi workers, and 100 flats for people with disabilities. Flats are offered on rent-to-own or affordable ownership terms. Most of the flats are in Hulhumalé, not Ras Malé.

How many people applied?

Applications were made online through the government housing portal, and the deadlines were extended several times. When they finally closed in June 2026, the Housing Ministry reported 58,505 applications: 22,575 for land plots and 35,930 for flats.

That's about 1.5 applications for every plot in the first round, and more than four for every flat. Not every application will be eligible, so the real ratio is lower. Even so, it means many applicants won't get a home from the first round.

Ras Malé was a big draw. The Goathigedhoru programme, which offers Ras Malé plots to people whose spouse already owns a home, received 12,749 plot applications on its own. Read more in our news story on the applications closing.

When will people get their plots?

No date has been confirmed. Plots in Ras Malé can only be handed over once the land is reclaimed, settled and served by roads, water and power. In November 2025, the government expected reclamation to finish in March or April 2026. In June 2026, the President said about 60% was done and that it would be completed within 2026, later than first planned. We haven't found a published allocation list, a points table or a handover timetable. When one appears, we'll add it here and on our progress tracker.

Getting a plot is also only the first step, because families then have to build. To help, Bank of Maldives cut the down payment on its home loans from 20% to 5%. It also offers up to MVR 3 million for building or renovation without extra security. Check the bank's current terms before relying on them.

Open questions

Housing is the part of Ras Malé that matters most to residents, and it's also where the gaps in published information matter most:

• Where the plots will be. No land-use plan has been published showing which parts of Ras Malé will hold the first 15,000 plots, the flats, and the roads, schools and clinics around them.
• How much land is left for housing. In September 2026, the government signed commercial terms with Eagle Hills for a waterfront and marina district in Ras Malé. In an opinion piece in October 2026, a Maldives Independent writer argued that more than 500 hectares had been committed to the project, and asked how much land remains for public housing. The government says the remaining land will still serve housing. A published plan would settle the question.
• The China housing agreement. The 30,000-unit agreement from January 2024 had no published financing terms, and its link to the current plot scheme hasn't been explained.
• Services. Families will need ferries or a bridge to Malé and Hulhumalé, and water, power and sewerage. In January 2024, the government signed a separate agreement with China Machinery Engineering Group for water and electricity in Ras Malé and Gulhifalhu, but no further details or timings have been published.

If you applied

• Keep your application reference and check the housing portal and the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure's announcements for the eligibility list.
• If you're asked to prove residence, gather the documents early. The long-term resident category requires proof of more than 15 years in the capital region.
• Be wary of anyone offering to "guarantee" a plot or sell a place in the queue. Allocation is run by the government through the official portal.

This guide is independent and isn't official advice. The ministry's own rules always take priority. Sign up for our monthly update and we'll tell you when the allocation list or handover dates are published.