Public Must Be Granted Full Disclosure on Ras Malé Commitments, Says Former Vice President Faisal Naseem

Former Vice President Faisal Naseem has asserted that the public must be granted full disclosure regarding the long-term commitments made by the state under the Ras Malé project, voicing profound concern over the lack of transparency surrounding foreign investment agreements for the reclamation site.

In a public statement, Faisal clarified that while he does not oppose foreign direct investment, noting its foundational role in building the nation’s successful tourism sector, the administration must not withhold vital details regarding the venture from citizens.

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ބޭރުގެ އިންވެސްޓްމަންޓްތަކަށް އަޅުގަނޑު ދެކޮޅެއް ނޫނެވެ. ރާއްޖޭގެ ފަތުރުވެރިކަމުގެ ސިނާއަތް ތަރައްގީވެ، މިއަދު މިދެކޭ ފަދަ ބޮޑު ކާމިޔާބީއެއް ހޯދުމުގައި ބޭރުގެ އިންވެސްޓްމަންޓްތަކުން ވަނީ ނުހަނު ބޮޑު ހިއްސާއެއް ވެފައެވެ. ނަމަވެސް، ރަސްމާލެ މަޝްރޫޢުގެ އިންވެސްޓްމަންޓްތަކާ ގުޅޭ މަޢުލޫމާތު ހާމަކުރުމުގައި ދެފުށް ފެންނަ އުސޫލެއް ނެތުމަކީ އަޅުގަނޑު އިންތިހާއަށް ކަންބޮޑުވާ ކަމެކެވެ. މިއީ ޤައުމަށް ފައިދާހުރި އިންވެސްޓްމަންޓެއް ނަމަ، އޭގެ ޝަރުޠުތަކާއި، އެއްބަސްވުންތަކާއި، އަދި އޭގެ ސަބަބުން ދިގުމުއްދަތުގައި ނިކުމެދާނެ ނަތީޖާތަކާ ގުޅޭ ފުރިހަމަ މަޢުލޫމާތު ރައްޔިތުންނަށް އެނގެންޖެހެއެވެ. ހިއްސާކުރަން ޖެހެއެވެ. އަމިއްލަ އިޚްތިޔާރުގައި ކަންކަން ނިންމުމަކީ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ލިބިގެންވާ ހައްޤެއްކަން އަޅުގަނޑު ޤަބޫލުކުރަމެވެ. ރައްޔިތުންގެ އަޑުއަހައި، އެ މީހުންގެ ކަންބޮޑުވުންތަކަށް އިޙްތިރާމްކުރަންޖެހޭނެއެވެ. އަދި ރައްޔިތުންގެ ނިންމުމާ ދެކޮޅަށް އެއްވެސް ކަމެއް އެމީހުންގެ މައްޗަށް މަޖުބޫރުކޮށްގެން ނުވާނެއެވެ. އިޤްތިޞާދީ ގޮތުން ކިތަންމެ ބޮޑު މަންފާއެއް ލިބެން އޮތް ކަމުގައި ވިޔަސް، ރައްޔިތުންގެ އެދުމާ ޚިލާފަށް ނުވަތަ ދައުލަތުގެ މިނިވަންކަމާއި ސިޔާދަތަށް އުނިކަން އަންނަ ފަދަ އެއްވެސް ކަމަކަށް ޖާގަ ދީގެން ނުވާނެއެވެ.— Faisal Naseem (@FaisalNasym) October 23, 2026

“However, the lack of transparency in disclosing information concerning the investments in the Ras Malé project is a matter of profound concern to me,” Faisal said. “If this is a beneficial investment for the country, complete information regarding its terms, agreements, and potential long-term outcomes must be known to the public. It must be shared.”

Faisal  emphasised that public self-determination must be respected by the authorities, asserting that nothing should be imposed upon citizens contrary to their wishes, irrespective of the scale of anticipated economic gains or potential returns.

His remarks come amid mounting legal and political scrutiny over the commercial terms agreement executed on 21 September 2026 between the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development and UAE-based developer Eagle Hills, which allocates 500 hectares of reclaimed land in Ras Malé under a 99-year leasehold arrangement.

The deal faces mounting legal and political challenges. Legal counsel Ali Hussain has requested a Supreme Court review after the Registrar dismissed his constitutional challenge against the agreement on jurisdictional grounds. 

Backed by the opposition campaign “Maldivians’ Land for Maldivians”, the petition argues that allocating land without rent or fees violates Article 250 of the Constitution, while long-term foreign lease provisions breach Article 251.

Opposition figure and former President Abdulla Yameen has also called on Eagle Hills to abandon the project, criticising the presence of foreign developments.

The government has rejected the allegations, maintaining that full ownership of the underlying land remains with the state and that Eagle Hills holds rights solely over above-ground assets. Speaking on the President’s Office podcast The Pulse, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu affirmed that Ras Malé remains entirely under Maldivian sovereignty and constitutional law, stating that statutory restrictions against non-Islamic places of worship will apply just as they do across the rest of the country.