News Desk
A constitutional case has been filed directly with the Supreme Court seeking to strike down the government’s agreement to hand over 500 hectares of reclaimed land in Rasmalé to UAE-based Eagle Hills for 99 years.
The legal challenge was lodged by lawyer and former Kendhoo constituency MP Ali Hussain. In a public statement, Ali Hussain stated that leasing such a massive plot of state land for nearly a century without charging any acquisition fee or rent—while permitting the developer to sublease to third parties—directly breaks Articles 250 and 251 of the Constitution. He stressed that existing laws give no authority to the government to hand over state assets to a foreign firm on such terms.
Alongside the main suit, the filing asks the court to issue a temporary injunction halting all work under the agreement until a final ruling is delivered, in order to protect third-party rights.
The deal signed with Eagle Hills to construct a waterfront and marina in Rasmalé has drawn severe fire from opposition politicians, who branded the deal a disguised “land sale” and demanded the administration publish the full signed contract.
Defending the project, Eagle Hills Chairman Mohamed Alabbar assured that the development will be carried out to meet the expectations of the Maldivian people. Posting an AI-generated preview video of the proposed site on Instagram, Alabbar called it the largest foreign investment in the country’s history.
“We are building more than just buildings in Rasmalé,” Alabbar said, detailing plans for the “Maldives Waterfront and Marina” that include public beaches, restaurants, hotels, sports arenas, and children’s areas.
Finance Minister Hassan Zareer also backed the deal, stating the government signed the agreement after inspecting similar developments by Eagle Hills and Emaar in Alexandria, Egypt, such as “Marassi,” and promised Rasmalé will become a modern, fully serviced city.
Major questions remain over the exact financial commitment involved. While the government and local media initially quoted the deal at over USD 20 billion in foreign direct investment, international reports and company figures place the value significantly lower at USD 12 billion. Neither the government nor the developer has clarified the discrepancy between the headline claim and the real figure.
The deal also brings past unfulfilled commitments back into focus. In 2017, Emaar Hospitality Group—which shares leadership links with Eagle Hills—announced its expansion into the Maldives with a management contract for the “Address Madivaru Maldives Resort & Spa” on Ethere Madivaru in North Ari Atoll, owned by Finolhu Investment. The planned 80-villa luxury resort was scheduled to open in 2020, but the project never moved forward and remains unbuilt.
Fushidhiggaru Lagoon (now Ras Malé): A Timeline and Highlights (2011–2026)
