Yameen Accuses Those Behind Rasmalé Deal of Being Trapped by Bribes

Former President Abdulla Yameen has accused individuals involved in the proposed Rasmalé development deal with UAE-based Eagle Hills of accepting bribes, claiming the money received has left President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration unable to proceed with or withdraw from the agreement.

Speaking at the weekly party meeting at the People’s National Front (PNF) office, Yameen alleged that those who had accepted money in connection with the deal had put the government in a position where it could neither move forward nor reverse its decision.

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He said those involved could not withdraw because of pressure from within their own ranks, while Yameen and the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) were blocking the way forward.

Yameen claimed that even Eagle Hills chairman Mohamed Alabbar had realised that the agreement could not be implemented in the Maldives, regardless of Muizzu’s determination to proceed.

He said the public remained deeply concerned about the project, even if people might not take to the streets in large numbers to protest against it.

Yameen reiterated that the PNF would never support the project and warned that proceeding with the agreement would effectively end Muizzu’s chances of securing another presidential term.

He proposed that the government hold a public referendum on the agreement, arguing that a popular vote would give Muizzu an opportunity to withdraw from the deal without political embarrassment. He said he expected Maldivians to overwhelmingly reject the project.

The government signed a Commercial Terms Agreement with Eagle Hills on 21 September 2026 for the development of 500 hectares of reclaimed land at Fushidhiggaru Falhu, designated as Rasmalé. The land, reclaimed using state funds, is to be leased to the UAE developer for 99 years without an acquisition fee or land rent, according to disclosures by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development.

The ministry has acknowledged that existing legislation does not permit the proposed lease terms and said work is under way to introduce new legislation to facilitate the agreement. The government had set 11 November as the target date for executing the definitive, binding agreement.

The deal has faced growing political opposition, with the MDP National Council voting on 1 November to demand a public referendum. The council also approved nationwide street demonstrations if the government refuses to hold a vote, with 57 members supporting the resolution and one voting against it.

However, former President Mohamed Nasheed publicly declared his full support for the project during the same council meeting, exposing divisions within the opposition party.

The People’s Majlis had also rejected an opposition resolution calling for the government to disclose the full commercial terms of the Eagle Hills agreement. The motion, submitted by MDP MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, was rejected by 45 votes, with 10 MPs voting in favour of accepting it for debate.

Yameen has separately called on Islamic Affairs Minister Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed to resign from the Cabinet over the government’s handling of the Rasmalé deal and the Samoa Agreement.