Ministry of Islamic Affairs has signed an agreement with SJ Construction Private Limited to build a new mosque in Hulhumale’ Phase II as the compensation for the failed project to reconstruct Zikra Mosque in Male’.
In 2018, SJ Construction was contracted to develop a 10-storey building at the premises of Zikra Mosque at an estimated cost of USD 8.4 million. The previous administration had paid SJ Construction USD 1.9 million as an advanced payment for the project. However, the contract was subsequently terminated after the company failed to complete the project within the 25-month deadline.
In April last year, the government filed a case in the Civil Court of the Maldives to retrieve the USD 1.9 million paid to SJ Construction for the Zikra Mosque project. However, during the dispute resolution process, an agreement was reached to build a new mosque in Hulhumale’ Phase II as compensation.
The agreement for the development of a new mosque in Hulhumale’ Phase II was signed on January 23 by Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Ahmed Zahir Ali and Director of SJ Construction Shihad Ibrahim. The project costs USD 2.27 million, with the amount in excess of USD 1.9 million to be invested by SJ Construction.
The new mosque will be built to serve a capacity of 3,000 worshippers at once. The duration given for the project is 1 year and 2 months.