President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the commercial port currently operating in Malé will be relocated to Thilafushi by 11 November next year, marking a long-anticipated shift in the country’s logistics and cargo operations.
The President made the announcement during his Presidential Statement 2026 delivered at the opening of Parliament, noting that while successive governments had previously planned to move the commercial port to Thilafushi, the effort had not been successfully completed until now.
According to President Muizzu, major infrastructure works required for the relocation are already underway. He said the construction of two kilometres of quay wall, along with paving and associated port facilities, is expected to be handed over by the middle of this year, paving the way for the full relocation to take place in 2026.
The President said relocating the port would significantly improve cargo handling efficiency, reducing the time required for goods clearance from the current average of seven days to just 48 hours. He added that expanded storage capacity at the new location would further streamline operations and lower logistics costs.
“With these changes, the cost of importing goods will decrease, and the benefits will be passed on to the public through lower prices,” President Muizzu said.
He also noted that as part of the relocation, warehouses and wholesale operations currently scattered across Malé’s market areas will be consolidated and moved to Thilafushi. This, he said, would help resolve longstanding issues caused by goods storage facilities being located throughout residential and commercial zones.
The President added that the move is expected to ease congestion in some of the city’s busiest areas, including the Malé market and Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) zone, improving traffic flow and overall urban management.
The existing Malé Commercial Port was developed in 1985 and lacks many modern facilities required for today’s volume of trade. Over the years, businesses and importers have raised concerns over delays in cargo release and operational constraints at the ageing port.
President Muizzu said the relocation to Thilafushi represents a structural reform aimed at modernising port operations and improving efficiency across the supply chain.
