The Housing Ministry Decides Not to Amend the Gulhifalhu Agreements
Gulhifalhu | Photo: Sarukaaru website
The Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development has announced it will not amend the existing agreements governing the Gulhifalhu land allocation project, despite earlier indications that new agreements would be signed for revised plots in line with the Land Acquisition Act.
The decision comes amid concerns raised by parliamentarians, stakeholders, and beneficiaries over the government’s new policy on land registration.
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Under the previous agreement, individuals were required to give up land parcels smaller than 600 square feet only if the plots were located in the Malé area. However, the new policy extends this requirement nationwide—meaning any land below that threshold must be relinquished, regardless of its location.
Last week, Housing Minister Dr. Abdullah Muththalib announced that the ministry would introduce an updated agreement to comply with the Land Acquisition Act. This announcement sparked criticism among some Gulhifalhu land allottees, who expressed fear that signing the new documents could result in losing their plots or being left with smaller parcels.
މިނިސްޓްރީން ނިންމީ މިހާރު ސޮއިކޮށްފައިވާ އެއްބަސްވުން އެގޮތަށް ބާއްވާފައި ގޯތި ނަންބަރު ބަދަލުވިކަމުގެ ލިޔުމެއްގައި ދެފަރާތުން ސޮއިކުރުމަށެވެ. މިއީ އިތުރު ލަސްވުމެއް ނެތި އާ ރެޖިސްޓްރީތައް ހަދައި ގޯތިތައް ޙަވާލުކުރުމުގެ ކަންކަން ކުރިއަށް ގެންދިއުމުގެ ގޮތުން ނިންމި ނިންމުމެކެވެ. https://t.co/w8LBOnEOqi— Abdulla Muththalib (@muththo) July 9, 2025
The Gulhifalhu Landowners’ Association also held a press conference urging beneficiaries not to sign the proposed documents. The association argued that while Gulhifalhu plot holders are required to surrender smaller plots under the new policy, similar plots allocated in Hulhumalé Phase 2 remain unaffected—creating a sense of unfairness and uncertainty among beneficiaries.
In parliament, Galolhu Uthuru MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) submitted an emergency motion calling on the government to halt the registration changes for Gulhifalhu plots. The ruling party majority rejected the motion.
Yesterday evening, the Housing Ministry released a statement saying the issue could not be resolved by simply amending the existing agreement signed with Gulhifalhu allottees. Instead, Minister Muthalib clarified in a post on X that the ministry has decided not to amend the current agreement but will issue new documents reflecting changes to the lot numbers due to adjustments in the government’s land use plan.
These adjustments have shifted the positions of some of the previously allocated plots in Gulhifalhu, while certain plots initially allocated from Giraavaru Falhu have now been moved to Gulhifalhu.
