Work is underway to develop the legal and policy framework for the Maldives’ first investor residency visa programme, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed announced. The initiative, which he described as a strategic effort to attract foreign capital and broaden the national economic base, marks a significant step in the government’s push for economic diversification.
Minister Saeed stated that the programme is currently in its design phase. Efforts are focused on defining its structural components, regulatory architecture, and enabling legislation. “This phase focuses on advancing discussions around the program’s design, including its policy and legal frameworks,” he said.
Stakeholder engagement has been central to the programme’s development. A second round of consultations concluded in mid-September, following preliminary meetings held in August 2025. The discussions convened representatives from Henley & Partners, an international advisory firm specialising in investment migration, alongside officials from the ministry, other government institutions, and members of the private sector.
Minister Saeed announced the outcome of the meetings via social media. “Building on the stakeholder consultation meetings held in August 2025 for the Residency by Investment Program, Henley & Partners and the Ministry held a second round of consultations with relevant government agencies and key private sector stakeholders from 14th - 18th September 2025,” he stated.
The consultations are intended to shape the programme’s operational contours and ensure alignment with international best practices, while reflecting national economic priorities.
The government’s formal partnership with Henley & Partners was ratified during a Business Forum held in Singapore, part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s official visit to the city-state. During the forum, the government signed a Service Agreement for a Residence by Investment Programme with the firm, formally launching the collaborative effort.
Investor residency programmes are widely adopted across developed economies and have proven effective in attracting foreign capital. Although the Maldives has not previously implemented such a scheme, officials expressed confidence in its potential to position the country as a competitive destination for global investors.
Government projections suggest that the programme could attract up to USD 6 billion in investment over its first five years, underscoring its anticipated role in strengthening economic resilience and expanding the country’s investment portfolio.