Mayor Azim Calls for Ras Malé Agreement to be Annulled, Alleges Transfer of Land to Foreign Parties

Malé Mayor Adam Azim has called for the government’s agreement with UAE-based developer Eagle Hills to develop the Ras Malé Waterfront and Marina to be annulled, describing the arrangement as a “grand betrayal” of the nation. 

Azim, in a post on social media, alleged that the agreement effectively gives foreign parties control over a large area of Ras Malé and argued that labelling it a lease does not change its substance.

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“Giving land from Ras Malé to foreign parties is a grand betrayal of the nation,” Azim said.

ރަސްމާލެއިން ބޭރު ބަޔަކަށް ބިން ދިނުމަކީ ގައުމަށް ވެވޭ ބޮޑު ހިޔާނާތެއް! 🇲🇻

ރަސްމާލެއިން ބޮޑު ބިމެއް ބޭރު ބަޔަކަށް ދޫކޮށްލީ ހަގީގަތުގައި ކުއްޔަކަށް ނޫން. ދިވެހި ރައްޔިތުންނަށް އެ ބިން ދުވަހަކުވެސް އަނބުރާ ނުލިބޭނެ ފަދަ ގޮތަކަށް އެއްބަސްވުމުގައި މާއްދާތައް ހިމަނައި، ހަމައެކަނި…— Adam Azim, Mayor of Male’ City (@adamazim) September 26, 2026

He alleged that clauses in the agreement had been structured in a way that would prevent Maldivians from regaining the land, and said simply describing the arrangement as a lease agreement was misleading the public.

Azim’s remarks came as President Mohamed Muizzu defended the Ras Malé project, rejecting claims that his administration had sold or privatised the land.

Speaking in an interview today, Muizzu said the land was being leased rather than sold, in accordance with the Constitution, and stressed that no sovereign guarantee had been provided, no loans had been taken and no tax concessions had been granted for the project.

Muizzu said the Eagle Hills-backed development would create jobs, generate income and support economic growth without affecting Maldivians’ access to housing.

He said reclamation of Ras Malé is currently 60–70 per cent complete, with utility works targeted to begin before the end of the year. The full development is expected to take about a decade.

The government and Eagle Hills signed the commercial terms agreement on Monday for the proposed Maldives Waterfront and Marina, a mixed-use development planned on reclaimed land in Ras Malé, the new urban area being developed at Fushi Dhiggaru Lagoon near Malé. 

The government has said the project will cover about 500 hectares of Ras Malé, with the remaining approximately 600 hectares primarily reserved for residential development. The planned development includes hotels and resorts, premium and branded residences, a marina, retail and dining facilities, entertainment, healthcare, education and other community infrastructure. 

Eagle Hills has described the project as a development worth about USD 12 billion across its planned phases, while the Maldivian government has referred to an overall project value of around USD 20 billion. The government has said the development could generate more than 54,000 jobs and attract at least one million visitors annually once fully developed. 

Azim’s comments come a day after former President Abdulla Yameen also criticised the agreement, describing the 99-year arrangement as illegal and arguing that a future government should not be bound by it.