Supreme Court Registrar Rejects Constitutional Challenge to Ras Malé Land Deal
Ali Hussain addresses the Supreme Court during the hearing on the constitutional challenge to the anti-defection amendment.
The Supreme Court Registrar has decided not to accept a constitutional petition seeking to invalidate a major government agreement granting over 500 hectares of reclaimed land in Ras Malé to UAE-based developer Eagle Hills for 99 years.
The legal challenge, filed by legal counsel and former Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain, sought to have the commercial terms agreement, signed on 21 September 2026 between the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development and Eagle Hills declared unconstitutional and void ab initio.
However, the Registrar rejected the filing on procedural grounds, stating that it does not constitute the type of matter that can be directly submitted to the Supreme Court as a court of first instance.
Under the Judicature Act, direct original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is strictly limited to constitutional issues that could precipitate a constitutional void or systemic collapse, jurisdictional or interpretive disputes between state institutions or powers, or major constitutional matters directly linked to the public interest.
The petition argued that granting state land under a 99-year arrangement without lease acquisition costs or rent lacked statutory authority under Article 250 of the Constitution. It further alleged that provisions allowing the creation of successive third-party leasehold interests on developed properties violated Article 251 by potentially extending foreign proprietary interests beyond statutory limits. An interim injunction had also been requested to suspend implementation pending a verdict.
Government officials have defended the project, maintaining that the arrangement does not constitute a sale of land. Finance Minister Hassan Zareer and Infrastructure Minister Abdulla Muththalib confirmed that full ownership of the underlying land remains with the state, while investors are permitted to own the above-ground developments.
Ali Hussain retains the right to submit the Registrar’s decision to the full bench of Supreme Court justices for review.
