MALÉ, Maldives — The Maldivian government is making major strides in the development of RasMalé, a flagship mega-reclamation project launched by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to deliver a permanent solution to the severe housing congestion in the Greater Malé Region. Situated in the Fushidhiggaru Lagoon, the ambitious development aims to reclaim roughly 1,150 hectares of land, making it the largest land reclamation undertaking in the history of the Maldives.
Envisioned as the nation’s premier eco-city, RasMalé is master-planned to accommodate up to 65,000 housing units, offering a mix of social housing, middle-income residences, and private land plots. According to project overview metrics published by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the completed landmass will be nearly three times the combined area of Hulhumalé Phase 1 and Phase 2. Housing authorities note that establishing this new metropolis is essential to meeting the capital region’s growing population demands over the next two decades.
Designed under a zero-carbon safe island concept, RasMalé aims to establish international benchmarks for climate-resilient urban development. To mitigate coastal erosion and the impacts of sea-level rise, the dredged land is elevated 2 to 3 meters above sea level. According to official planning documentation on Invest Maldives, the city will integrate smart infrastructure, renewable energy systems, digital services, and a dedicated express speedboat transit network to connect residents seamlessly to Malé.
Reclamation operations across designated dredging sectors are progressing in coordination with international contracting partners. According to updates reported by PSM News and coverage on Dredging Today, heavy dredging equipment and hopper dredgers have reclaimed hundreds of hectares across the lagoon. In addition to residential areas, the completed eco-city will incorporate university campuses, specialized healthcare facilities, commercial districts, sports arenas, and public green spaces to support a fully integrated community.
