Land reclamation begins with signing of Vilufushi airport contract

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu (C) attends the inauguration of the land reclamation and airport development project in Th. Vilufushi on September 24, 2025. (Photo/MACL)

The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) initiated land reclamation works in Th. Vilufushi on Wednesday, shortly after it was awarded a project to develop an airport in the island.

The agreement to develop and operate an airport in Vilufushi was signed by Finance Minister Moosa Zameer and MACL’s CEO Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed in a ceremony held in the island in the morning.

The ceremony, attended by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, also saw the inauguration of the reclamation of land needed for the airport.

Finance Minister Moosa Zameer (R) and MACL’s CEO Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed (L) sign the agreement for an airport development project in Th. Vilufushi on September 24, 2025. (Photo/MACL)

According to MACL, the project will see the development of an airport with a 1,200-meter runway, a modern passenger terminal and other facilities.

During a meeting with residents of Vilufushi on Tuesday night, President Muizzu noted that an airport is the biggest pledge he made to the island.

He pledged to finish the airport in under 30 months.

The Th. Atoll already has an airport in Thimarafushi, which was developed during former President Mohamed Nasheed’ administrations. However, the demand for the airport is low, due to little economic activity in the region.