President Plans to Revise Hulhumalé Residential Height Limit to Ten Storeys

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the building height limit for residential plots in Hulhumalé, covering both Phase I and Phase II, will be revised to allow construction of up to ten storeys with some conditions.

The President made the announcement during a consultative meeting with residents of Hulhumalé Phase I held last evening at the Rehendhi School Hall. The meeting was part of a series of public engagements aimed at gathering public views, addressing concerns, and identifying practical solutions.

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Explaining the proposed revision, the President said parking remains a major challenge in Hulhumalé. He stated that buildings constructed up to ten storeys will be required to allocate the ground floor exclusively for resident parking, while an additional floor should be designated for non-residential, income-generating uses such as commercial activities. He added that the necessary regulatory amendments will be introduced to enable residents in both phases to access this opportunity.

On land ownership, the President said residential plots allocated under the social category in Hulhumalé Phase I through paid agreements had not previously received financial concessions. He announced a 10 per cent discount on the total value of these agreements, clarifying that the reduction will be deducted from the remaining outstanding balance.

The President also provided an update on enforcement actions taken in response to public complaints raised during consultations in Malé. He said a joint task force comprising the Ministry of Economic Development, Maldives Immigration and the Maldives Police Service has intensified operations, resulting in the closure of 83 massage parlours operating illegally as salons between 9 and 21 December, and a further 56 businesses run illegally by expatriates over the past three weeks.

Addressing concerns over increased government spending linked to the appointment of retired individuals, the President announced a new policy under which retirement allowances will be suspended for the duration of service for any retired person appointed to a government post or elected to public office. He also said the Re-employment Bill has been submitted to the People’s Majlis, proposing a legal framework for individuals aged 65 to 75 to continue working.

In addition, the President said recent changes to dress code standards in government offices will be reversed to align with original Civil Service specifications. He added that authorities have been instructed to implement the decision under executive powers.

The President further announced that from the next academic year, students will be prohibited from using mobile phones during school hours, with the Ministry of Education responsible for implementing the policy and issuing operational guidelines.