The Manhattan Grand Hotel, the largest five-star hotel in the Greater Malé region, was officially opened in Hulhumalé tonight, bringing new life to a building that had stood unfinished for years.
Minister of Finance and State Enterprises Hassan Zareer inaugurated the hotel at a special ceremony held in Hulhumalé Phase 1 on Saturday night.
The opening was marked with a fireworks display over Hulhumalé, paid for by the hotel on a commercial basis.
The project was first initiated by the State Trading Organisation (STO) nearly two decades ago, with construction beginning in 2011 at an investment of USD 34 million.
However, the development stalled for various reasons. Over the years, 17 investors expressed interest in taking on the project, but none were able to complete it.
Under the current administration, the government handed the project to a private investor, and work moved forward at a rapid pace.
The hotel is operated by World of Business Private Limited, with 50 percent foreign investment from Deep Seafood Company of the United Arab Emirates.
The development was completed within just 11 months of the work being handed over. Notably, the team had no access to the original architectural drawings, and brought in experienced professionals to make major changes to the structure.
Nine floors of the building are dedicated to the five-star hotel, which features 162 rooms and suites.
Facilities include a swimming pool, hot tub, spa and wellness centre, fitness centre, a grand banquet hall and three large halls for conferences and events. The hotel will also host four international franchise restaurants.
The hotel’s design reflects the history and culture of the Maldives. It is located around ten minutes from Velana International Airport.
The development fulfils a pledge by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to build a quality hotel in Hulhumalé where visitors to the Maldives can stay in transit.
Hotel owner Ibrahim Naeem said he had written to the President about the stalled building, and the President had accepted his proposal.
“It was my great wish to get this done. This is a very important place for the island,” Naeem said. He added that although he had never met the President, the decision showed a leader with a strong vision for the nation.
The government estimates the hotel will bring around USD 3 million to the state in taxes and revenue.
About 3.5 floors of the building have been set aside for government use. Work is under way there on several key government pledges: a media village, a youth centre with e-sports facilities, a heritage college and a medical college.
With its doors now open, the Manhattan Grand Hotel stands as one of the newest additions to Hulhumalé’s growing skyline.
