News Desk
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu met residents of the Sinamalé and Malé Hiyaa flats at Mulee’aage on Monday evening, acknowledging years of unresolved grievances. Residents spoke candidly about the worsening condition of the buildings, the burden of outstanding rent, and the penalties that had accumulated as the structures continued to deteriorate.
In response, the President announced a special allowance of MVR 100,000 for every household in Sinamalé Flats 1–4 and Malé Hiyaa Flats 1–2. He also ordered a full waiver of all penalties linked to overdue payments. Under the new arrangement, any resident who owes more than MVR 100,000 will have their payable amount capped at that figure. If the outstanding sum is below MVR 100,000, the remaining balance will be waived and the difference deposited into the resident’s account. Those who have already completed all payments will receive the full MVR 100,000 directly.
Background: Sinamalé and Malé Hiyaa Flats
The Sinamalé and Malé Hiyaa flats were built nearly three decades ago, during the administration of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, with financial and technical support from the Chinese government. According to archival notes from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the project took shape after a series of diplomatic visits and negotiations led by the then foreign minister, Fathuhulla Jameel. It became the country’s first major social‑housing scheme — a landmark effort at a time when Malé was only beginning to feel the pressures of rapid urban growth.
Today, the buildings stand among the most visibly ageing structures in the capital: five blocks containing 128 apartments, home to 128 families. Their condition has deteriorated steadily, prompting years of complaints and calls for a long‑term solution.
During his tenure as Mayor of Malé, Dr Muizzu championed a complete redevelopment of the site — a plan that has now followed him into the presidency. The City Council has approved the full demolition of the old flats, but only after every family is relocated to new housing. The replacement will be far larger in scale: instead of five ageing blocks, the area will be rebuilt as a cluster of eight modern towers, each rising 15 storeys. The redevelopment will take place in two phases and is expected to deliver 1,500 new apartments — a tenfold increase on what exists today.
According to reports issued by the City Council during Muizzu’s mayoralty, the first phase rebuild five towers containing 700 apartments. Of these, 128 units are reserved for the families currently living in the old Sinamalé and Malé Hiyaa blocks. Once those families move into their new homes, the existing buildings will be demolished. The second phase will add a further 800 apartments, designed as mid‑range housing. All units across both phases will be significantly larger than the current flats, ranging from 800 to 1,300 square feet, with two, three and four bedroom layouts.
The redevelopment also introduces features the old buildings never had: commercial spaces on the ground floors and parking for 500 cars and 2,000 motorbikes — a practical addition that has become almost unavoidable in new buildings across Malé.
As the plan was first outlined by the City Council, the redevelopment was expected to generate around MVR 175 million from land‑use fees, with a further MVR 15 million a year from commercial rents and parking spaces.
