Maafaru Airport is a gift from UAE; will accompany a city hotel

The international airport which is to be built in N. Maafaru is a gift from the government of United Arab Emirates (UAE), says President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

President Yameen made the statement during his visit to N. Hen’badhoo – part of his current tour of islands in N. Atoll, B. Atoll and Lh. Hinnavaru – this Sunday.

He said the airport was a gift from the government of UAE to represent its close ties with the current Maldivian administration.

“The airport is a gift from them to our people. It’s a gift to represent the close ties between the government of UAE and this administration. The airport will also include a city hotel,” said President Yameen.

He said the airport and the city hotel in Maafaru will lead to economic prosperity for the whole atoll. He described it as the biggest opportunity for economic progress in N. Atoll.

He said the airport will be made operational by July, 2018.

“Construction of the airport has begun. By begun, I mean the area where the airport will be built has been cleared. It has been cleared of trees. Construction will begin and we are trying to complete the project within six months,” said President Yameen.

He said N. Atoll was very close to his heart, and he wanted to see the atoll progress.

President Yameen’s mother is from N. Velidhoo, and he has served as an MP for N. Atoll in the past.

He noted in speech that some of the people he currently worked most closely with were from N. Atoll. He named the leader of Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), Ahmed Siyam Mohamed and deputy leader of MDA, Ahmed Mauroof in his speech.