President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has assured the public that alcohol, pork and casinos will be strictly prohibited within the proposed USD 20 billion Rasmalé Waterfront and Marina development, stressing that the project will remain fully subject to Maldivian laws and sovereignty.
Speaking on the NationChat programme, jointly organised by the President’s Office and PSM News, President Muizzu addressed concerns surrounding the major investment project being undertaken by UAE-based developer Eagle Hills.
He said the development would operate under stricter conditions than those typically applied to tourist resorts in the Maldives, dismissing suggestions that the project would introduce activities prohibited under the country’s existing laws.
According to the President, the sale and consumption of alcohol will not be permitted anywhere within the development, while pork products and casino operations will also be prohibited.
He further confirmed that the area would have a mosque, with the call to prayer conducted five times daily.
The President emphasised that the development would form part of Rasmalé rather than operate as a separate island or an independently governed destination.
He said the government would ensure that the project does not introduce practices that conflict with Maldivian religious, social or legal standards.
Addressing concerns about foreign influence, President Muizzu stated that no school or educational institution within the development would be placed under foreign control.
He explained that foreign nationals purchasing properties or establishing holiday homes in the area would be required to follow existing Maldivian regulations when enrolling their children in schools.
Foreign residents seeking admission for their children to Maldivian educational institutions would therefore remain subject to the same requirements that currently apply elsewhere in the country.
The President stressed that the development would not have a separate education system or special arrangements allowing residents to bypass national regulations.
He also sought to reassure the public that the project would not operate under a separate legal or administrative framework.
President Muizzu said the Maldives Police Service would maintain a presence in the development, while all relevant state institutions would continue to exercise their authority.
He emphasised that Maldivian sovereignty, the Constitution and national laws would apply throughout the area, regardless of the involvement of foreign investors or property buyers.
The President further stated that no foreign country’s laws would have jurisdiction over the development.
He said the government’s authority would remain unchanged in all matters, including national security, law enforcement and the administration of the area.
According to President Muizzu, these safeguards would be incorporated into the legal arrangements governing the project and the agreement with Eagle Hills.
He maintained that the government would take the necessary measures to prevent potential risks associated with the development.
The President also rejected claims that casinos or other prohibited activities could be introduced through the project, describing such allegations as attempts to generate public concern and discourage foreign investment.
He said the investment opportunity being offered within a designated section of Rasmalé would ultimately benefit the Maldivian public.
The assurances come amid public discussion surrounding the scale and nature of the Eagle Hills investment, particularly the implications of developing a major waterfront destination that includes residential, commercial and tourism-related facilities.
The Rasmalé Waterfront and Marina project is a proposed USD 20 billion development intended to establish a major mixed-use destination within the reclaimed Rasmalé area.
The project includes plans for a high-quality marina alongside entertainment venues, restaurants, retail outlets, wellness facilities, educational institutions, healthcare services and other community amenities.
The Government of Maldives and Eagle Hills have signed a commercial terms agreement establishing the framework for the development.
The project is planned to cover approximately 500 hectares within Rasmalé, one of the country’s largest ongoing land reclamation initiatives.
Rasmalé itself is being developed through the reclamation of 1,150 hectares of land, of which 716 hectares have already been reclaimed.
According to government figures, the reclaimed area has made Rasmalé the largest island in the Maldives by land area.
Once the full reclamation programme is completed, the government estimates that Rasmalé will provide an area of land equivalent to approximately three times the combined size of Hulhumalé Phase 1 and Phase 2.
The wider Rasmalé development forms part of the administration’s plans to expand land availability and accommodate future residential, commercial and infrastructure development in the Greater Malé Region.
The Eagle Hills investment represents a major component of those plans, with the government seeking to attract international capital to support large-scale development.
President Muizzu reiterated that the involvement of a foreign developer would not alter the legal status of the land or the authority of the Maldivian state.
He maintained that the government would ensure the development remains consistent with the country’s laws, religious principles and national interests while delivering economic and social benefits to the public.
