MACL Awarded Contract to Develop Faafu Nilandhoo Airport

The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has been awarded the contract to construct and operate a new airport in Faafu atoll Nilandhoo. 

The handover took place on Saturday during President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s visit to the island.

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Our CEO & Managing Director, Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, together with the Minister of Finance and Planning, Moosa Zameer, signed a MoU to develop an airport in F. Nilandhoo — a significant milestone in advancing connectivity and fostering regional development. pic.twitter.com/TMS7WhjXuF— Maldives Airports Company Ltd (@MACLmedia) September 21, 2025

The agreement was signed between Finance Minister Moosa Zameer and MACL Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed at a ceremony held in Nilandhoo. The President announced that land reclamation for the airport is nearing completion, with plans for a 1,500-metre runway. The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has been tasked with dredging an additional 300 metres, allowing for the development of an 1,800-metre runway.

The new airport is intended to serve as a key infrastructure project for Faafu atoll, with the government emphasising its importance for economic and regional development. The project falls under the administration’s broader policy to ensure that every residential island, resort, or industrial area is within 30 minutes of a domestic airport.

MTCC was initially awarded the construction contract for Nilandhoo airport in March 2024, with a deadline of 390 days for completion. However, under the revised arrangement, MACL will oversee both the development and operation of the facility, which is expected to be a state-of-the-art airport.

Plans for an airport in Nilandhoo were first included in the budget during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration, but work did not progress at that time.