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Maldives Ras Malé waterfront development dispute

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2026-10-20 18:15 UTC → 2026-10-21 07:24 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The UAE-based developer Eagle Hills announced the ‘Maldives Waterfront and Marina’ project in Ras Malé, a development valued at over $20 billion. The project is expected to create 54,000 jobs and includes the construction of 5,000 housing units. While the Maldivian constitution prohibits foreign land ownership, the developer intends to offer residential properties to foreigners through 99-year leases. Following the announcement, a constitutional case was filed with the Maldives Supreme Court to halt the agreement. The legal challenge, filed by lawyer and former parliamentarian Ali Hussain, alleges that the deal—which involves approximately 500 hectares of reclaimed state land—may breach constitutional provisions regarding state property. Specifically, the petition contested the plan to grant the land to Eagle Hills for a 99-year lease without an acquisition cost or lease payments, potentially violating Article 250 of the Constitution. On October 13, 2026, the Supreme Court registrar rejected the petition, ruling that the case could not be submitted directly to the Supreme Court as a court of first instance. Hussain has maintained his right to appeal this decision and has alleged that the decision reflects government influence over the court. In response to public concerns regarding potential Israeli involvement, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr. Abdulla Muththalib dismissed claims of ‘Zionist settlement’ risks as baseless, stating the government has implemented safeguards to bar Israeli citizens and entities from the project. On October 19, 2026, President Mohamed Muizzu announced a 25 percent ownership cap for citizens of any single foreign nation within the development to prevent any one country from dominating property ownership. This restriction is intended to be introduced via upcoming real estate legislation. The President also confirmed that Israeli citizens would be entirely barred from acquiring property within the development.

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