Reclamation works for the Hulhumalé Phase 3 land reclamation project, overseen by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), have now reached a significant milestone with 31 hectares of a planned 63 hectares reclaimed, equivalent to about 49.2 percent completion, according to recent progress reports.
The large-scale initiative, part of the government’s broader strategy to expand land supply in the congested Greater Malé region, resumed active dredging on 10 November 2025, following previous pauses in work. Two 22,000 cubic metre capacity dredgers, Prins der Nederlanden and Oranje, are currently deployed to expedite sand deposition and land formation.
Project documentation confirms that the overall reclamation for Phase 3, managed under MACL with contracting support from Capital Marine and Civil Construction Company, is progressing steadily toward its completion target. The newly reclaimed land is expected to support future residential, commercial, and infrastructure development as outlined in the updated master plan for Hulhumalé.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and senior officials from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and MACL have been monitoring work on the ground, underscoring the strategic priority of expanding usable land to address housing shortages in the capital region. Completion of this phase is anticipated to unlock new opportunities for land allocation and urban growth.
Hulhumalé itself is a purpose-built artificial island created to alleviate population pressure from Malé and support long-term socio-economic development. The island’s phased expansion, including Phase 3 reclamation, plays a central role in government plans to enhance living space and infrastructure capacity in the nation’s most densely settled area.
Further updates on the timetable for finishing the remaining dredging and subsequent development plans are expected as MACL continue operations.
