Former Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel, who resigned in April, has said details of the Ras Malé project were not shared with Cabinet during his tenure, questioning whether government officials are refusing to answer public concerns about the deal.
Khaleel made the remarks in response to Kindbidhoo MP Ali Ashraq, who challenged his earlier call for greater transparency over the USD 20 billion Ras Malé project.
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އެކުވެރިޔާގެ މަޢުލޫމާތު ރަނގަޅުކޮށްލައްވާ! އަޅުގަނޑު ކެބިނެޓްގައި ހޭދަކުރި ދުވަސްވަރު މި ޕްރޮޖެކްޓާ ގުޅުންހުރި އެއްވެސް ކަމެއް ޙިއްސާ ކޮށްފައެއް ނެތް. އޭރު ވެސް އަނެއްކާ އެހާ ސިއްރިޔާތުގައި ގެންގޮސްފައި އޮތީތޯ؟ އަޅުގަނޑު ދަންނަވާފައި އޮތް ވާހަކަ އޮޅުވާ ނުލައްވާ. ބުނެފައި އެވަނީ 1. ބޮޑެތި އިންވެސްޓްމަންޓްތައް ގެންނަން ޖެހޭ ވާހަކަ. 2. ރައްޔިތުން ކުރާ ސުވާލުތަކަށް ޖަވާބު ދޭންޖެހޭ ވާހަކަ. ރައްޔިތުންގެ ހިތުގައި އުފެދިފައިވާ ސުވާލުތަކަށް ޖަވާބުދޭން ސަރުކާރުގެ ވެރިން އަނެއްކާ ދެކޮޅު ހައްދަވަނީތޯ؟— Abdulla Khaleel (@abkhaleel) October 12, 2026
Ashraq said the government had repeatedly publicised the USD 700 million reclamation cost. He argued that the project’s most immediate benefit to the state was 5,000 housing units valued at approximately USD 500 million, describing this as a substantial contribution at a time when foreign financing for social housing was difficult to secure.
Ashraq also defended the project’s financial arrangements, saying investments did not always require upfront payments and that Maldivian law did not permit permanent foreign ownership of land. He urged Khaleel to support projects beneficial to the country, regardless of whether he was in government or opposition.
In his response to Ashraq’s post, Khaleel said the MP had misrepresented his position. He clarified that his argument was that the Maldives should attract major investments while ensuring that questions raised by the public were answered.
“My friend, please correct your information! During my time in the Cabinet, no details related to this project were shared. Was it being carried out so secretively back then as well?” Khaleel wrote.
He reiterated that he had not opposed bringing large investments into the country, but had called for answers to public concerns.
“Are government officials refusing to answer the questions that have arisen in the minds of the public?” he asked.
Khaleel resigned in April amid a major reshuffle of ministerial positions in President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration.
The Ras Malé project, being developed with UAE-based Eagle Hills, involves reclaiming approximately 500 hectares of land in the Fushi Dhiggaru Lagoon and developing residential, commercial and tourism facilities.
The wider project has been valued at around USD 20 billion. A key component is the construction of 5,000 housing units in Hulhumalé, estimated to cost USD 500 million, with construction expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027. The project’s financing arrangements, the value of the reclaimed land and the terms under which land will be leased have been among the issues raised in public discussions.
