Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) engineer Mohamed Zidhan Hassan has received the Young Engineer Award at the Engineers’ Awards 2026, earning national recognition for his work in the engineering sector.
Zidhan is a member of MACL’s General HVAC Maintenance team, which is responsible for supporting the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems required for the operation of airport facilities.
MACL congratulated Zidhan on the achievement, highlighting the recognition received by one of its young technical professionals at this year’s national engineering awards.
The award comes as MACL continues to place greater emphasis on developing local engineering expertise to support the increasingly complex infrastructure at Velana International Airport (VIA).
HVAC systems form an important part of airport operations, particularly in the Maldives’ tropical climate. Maintaining temperature, ventilation and air quality across passenger terminals, operational buildings and other airport facilities requires continuous technical monitoring and maintenance.
The work forms part of a much wider engineering operation behind VIA. MACL employs engineers and technical teams across several specialised areas, including water and sewerage, mechanical systems, HVAC, fuel infrastructure, information technology, aerodrome and ground aids, and planning and development.
The scale and technical requirements of these operations have grown alongside the expansion of the country’s main international gateway.
VIA is currently undergoing a major transformation aimed at increasing capacity and improving the passenger experience. A new international passenger terminal was opened in July 2025, representing one of the largest infrastructure developments undertaken at the airport.
The expansion has brought additional facilities and more sophisticated building systems into operation, increasing the importance of skilled engineers and technical personnel responsible for maintaining critical airport infrastructure.
MACL recently highlighted this work during National Engineers Day activities, giving young visitors an opportunity to learn about the different engineering disciplines involved in keeping VIA operational. The initiative showcased the often less visible technical systems that support airport operations around the clock.
The Engineers’ Awards 2026 were introduced this year as part of National Engineers Day celebrations to recognise individuals and organisations contributing to engineering and national development in the Maldives.
Zidhan’s Young Engineer Award adds MACL to the organisations whose employees received recognition at the inaugural ceremony and highlights the role of younger Maldivian professionals entering highly specialised areas of engineering.
