Turkish Investor Awarded Hankede Tourism Project In Addu

The government has announced that a Turkish investor has been awarded the Hankede tourism development project in Addu City, following the decision to revoke previous plans and reassign the site.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu made the announcement during his visit to Addu on Wednesday, confirming that the Ministry of Tourism had accepted the investor’s proposal and issued a letter of award. The investor has until 7 December to pay the acquisition cost, after which a lease agreement will be signed.

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According to the President, the development will begin with a 1,000-bed tourism facility as the first phase of a larger 3,000-bed project. The President added that the investor aims to complete the initial payment within a week to proceed with the lease signing.

The decision to reassign the Hankede project follows a presidential resolution issued on 1 October, which repealed a 2021 decree by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih that had allocated the project to the Maldives Fund Management Corporation (MFMC). The site has since been transferred to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment to lead the new initiative.

The Hankede project was initially awarded to the China National Electrical Engineering Company (CNEEC) under the previous administration. Although conceptual drawings were completed in early 2023, the project did not advance to the construction stage.

Three months ago, the current administration designated Hankede as one of six sites for halal tourism development in the Maldives, reflecting the government’s plan to diversify the tourism industry and attract new markets.