Gulhifalhu land registration progresses with 23.9% issued

The Ministry of National Planning, Housing & Infrastructure has reported on Sunday that 23.9% of the land allotted under the Binnveriyaa scheme in Gulhifalhu has been registered. 

This follows the issuance of registrations that began on July 12 for plots originally allocated by the previous government.

Initially, the former administration planned to allot 2,000 plots in Gulhifalhu. However, the current government has adjusted this to 3,520 plots, including transfers from Giraavaru lagoon to Gulhi. To date, 843 individuals have received land registrations, according to the Sunday statement from the Housing Ministry.

ބިންވެރިޔާ ސްކީމްގެދަށުން ގުޅިފަޅުން ގޯތި ލިބިފައިވާ ފަރާތްތަކަށް ރަޖިސްޓްރީ ދޫކުރުން؛

މިހާތަނަށް 843 ފަރާތަކަށް ގޯތީގެ ރަޖިސްޓްރީ ވަނީ ދޫކުރެވިފައި.

ރަޖިސްޓްރީ ދޫކުރުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް ކުރިއަށްދަނީ މިނިސްޓްރީ ކުރިން ހިންގި އިމާރާތުގެ ބިމުގައި. pic.twitter.com/eZXT7QbWEm

— Ministry of Construction, Housing & Infrastructure (@MoCImv) August 10, 2025

The registrations are being processed from the site of the ministry’s former headquarters, which was destroyed in a significant fire on December 12 that also affected the Infrastructure Ministry, Environment Ministry, and parts of the Male’ City Council, including the registration department.

The Gulhifalhu reclamation project, launched last July, was contracted to Dutch firm Boskalis for USD 120 million (MVR 2 billion). The previous government conducted an initial draw for allottees, but the current administration has revised the land use plan twice, with a re-draw held on May 30 under the new plan.

The interim government amended prior agreements, citing legal irregularities. Originally, recipients were to relinquish claims to state-owned land under 600 square feet in Male’. A new policy proposed extending this to all land owned in the Maldives, sparking concerns. Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib noted the change conflicted with Article 11 of the Land Act, prompting the amendment.

This decision drew threats of legal action from the Gulhifalhu Rayyithunge Union. In response, Muthalib clarified on X that the original agreement would stand, with a new document addressing plot number changes to speed up allotments. 

The ministry is also collaborating with the Attorney General’s Office to resolve broader disputes with the Land Acquisition Act.