MVR 570M Thulhaadhoo airport deal signed after scrapping prior contract

A new agreement was formally signed on Monday, encompassing land reclamation, coastal protection, and critical infrastructure development for a domestic airport in B. Thulhaadhoo.

This project was initially awarded to the Sri Lankan firm Capital Marine and Civil Construction (CMCC) on July 12, 2023, under the administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, with work commencing on August 29, 2023.

Following the change in government, the project experienced a cessation of operations.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, during a visit to Thulhaadhoo, addressed the island's populace, stating that the Thulhaadhoo airport development would be re-evaluated to align with community needs and elevated to modern standards.

The new agreement was formalized at a ceremony held at the Construction Ministry on Monday, subsequent to the cancellation of the 2023 agreement for the dredging of land for the proposed domestic airport in Thulhaadhoo.

The work has now been awarded to the state-owned Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).

An allocation of MVR 570,260,350.80 has been designated for the dredging and beach protection components essential for the airport's development. The project is slated for completion within a 660-day timeframe. Previously, the dredging project was contracted to CMCC for USD 42.4 million (MVR 653 million).

The agreement was signed by State Minister for Construction Hassan Rasheed, with MTCC Deputy Managing Director Mohamed Jamsheed signing on behalf of his company.

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މި އެއްބަސްވުމުގައި ސޮއިކުރައްވާފައިވަނީ މިނިސްޓްރީ އޮފް ކޮންސްޓްރަކްޝަން ހައުސިންގ އެންޑް އިންފްރާސްޓްރަކްޗަރ ގެ ފަރާތުން… pic.twitter.com/qv8UBOrf40

— Ministry of Construction, Housing & Infrastructure (@MoCImv) August 11, 2025

The envisioned airport will feature a runway measuring 1,800 meters in length and 30 meters in width.

Under the terms of the agreement signed on Monday, 55.4 hectares of land will undergo dredging, and 2,804 meters of rock revetment along with 1,677 meters of geo bag revetment will be installed.

The initiative to establish a domestic airport at Thulhaadhoo is consistent with the government's strategic objective of expanding national domestic airport services. This policy aims to ensure that no inhabited island, resort, or industrial area in the Maldives is more than a 30-minute travel distance from a domestic airport.

The re-awarding of the land reclamation project for Thulhaadhoo airport coincides with President Muizzu’s official tour of the Baa atoll islands, which will include a visit to Thulhaadhoo. He is anticipated to inaugurate the dredging work during his visit.