The reclamation of the Giraavaru Falhu lagoon is slated for completion by the end of April, at which point land registries will be issued exclusively for acreage where physical dredging is finished, Dr Abdulla Muththalib, the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, announced.
This policy shift seeks to resolve public uncertainty stemming from the previous government’s decision to distribute titles before the site had been physically reclaimed. Minister Muththalib addressed the matter during a parliamentary inquiry from Mohamed Ibrahim, the representative for North Galolhu, regarding timelines and potential plot relocations.
The 169-hectare project was transferred to the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) after the government found the original contractor had completed only 54 hectares. On 31 January 2026, the MACL initiated operations to reclaim the remaining 97 hectares, Minister Muththalib noted. "The reclamation of 44 hectares has been successfully completed. An additional 54 hectares still require reclamation. We anticipate that the comprehensive project will be finalised by the 31st of this month," Minister Muththalib stated.
Due to insufficient capacity for the 5,000 plots originally planned, the government relocated 1,114 allocations to Gulhifalhu. Despite these adjustments, Minister Muththalib remained firm on legal protocols. "Under Maldivian law, a land registry can only be issued for 'dry' land," Minister Muththalib explained, affirming that registries will be distributed strictly following the project's conclusion. The priority of the initiative was underscored on 20 March, when President Dr Mohamed Muizzu conducted an official site visit to inspect the ongoing progress.