Male’ City Council Reopens Leased Parking Spaces to Public
Photo: MV+
The Male’ City Council has opened previously leased parking spaces on city roads for public use, following a directive to revoke existing leases.
މާލޭ މަގުތަކުން ހަތަރުފުރޮޅުލީ ވެހިކަލް ޕާކިންއަށް ކުއްޔަށްދޫކޮށްފައިވާ ސަރަހައްދުތަކާ ގުޅޭhttps://t.co/wNxb3cSnZ6
— Malé City Council (@MaleCitymv) October 1, 2025advertisement
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The spaces had been leased out during the mayorship of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, a practice that had exacerbated the city’s already severe parking shortage.
In September, the Attorney General’s Office advised the Transport Ministry that leasing parking spaces from public roads is unlawful. The ministry subsequently instructed the Male’ City Council to halt the leasing of slots and revoke existing agreements.
The council announced on Wednesday that members of the public can now park in all city parking zones, except in areas clearly marked as closed for specific uses. Male’ City Mayor Adam Azim has stated that revoking the leases will free up approximately 1,000 parking slots in the congested capital.
The shortage of parking space remains a serious issue in Male’, home to tens of thousands of residents. The number of vehicles far exceeds the urban carrying capacity of existing roads and parking infrastructure, contributing to congestion and related challenges. Previous attempts to introduce mechanical vertical parking facilities in certain areas were never utilised.
