The Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development has announced that applications for land plots and flats under the flagship Boahiyaavahikan Emmen’ah programme will open on the 15th of next month, marking a major step forward in the government’s Housing for All policy.
The revised application window will remain open until April 14, following amendments to the Family Housing programme guidelines introduced after extensive public consultations led by President and feedback submitted to the ministry after the initial release of the rules. The changes reflect a clear shift towards people-centred policymaking, responding directly to concerns raised by citizens during nationwide town hall meetings.
Under the updated guidelines, families who previously received a one-bedroom government housing unit and now have one or more children under 18 will be eligible to apply for a three-bedroom flat, provided they surrender their existing unit under government-determined arrangements. Families who received a two-bedroom unit and have children of both genders under 18 will also qualify to apply for a three-bedroom flat under the same conditions.
In a significant expansion of eligibility, applicants may now apply for land plots or flats even if their spouse owns property exceeding 400 square feet, or owns a house, rowhouse, or flat outside the Greater Malé area. This revision removes long-standing barriers that had excluded many families from housing opportunities despite genuine need.
The residential land allocation policy introduces two main categories and multiple special priority groups. A total of 10,000 plots are allocated for Malé residents, 3,000 plots for residents of other islands living in Malé without Malé registration, and 2,000 plots for special priority categories. Land for Malé residents and priority groups will be allocated from the Greater Malé area and , while plots for non-registered island residents living in Malé will be allocated exclusively from Rasmale’.
Additionally, 1,000 land plots and 1,000 flats are designated for individuals registered in the Malé Dhafthar who are not attached to a specific household. Flat allocations include 4,000 units for Malé residents, 1,500 units for island residents living in Malé, and 2,400 units for special priority groups.
The Family Housing programme places strong emphasis on social protection, prioritising families without private housing, households with persons with disabilities, families caring for elderly parents, and guardians raising children. The ministry stated that the revised framework is designed to ensure fair access to housing for every Maldivian citizen, while strengthening long-term social stability.
With the publication of the new guidelines in the Government Gazette, all announcements made on November 17 have been formally revoked, clearing the way for a transparent and inclusive application process aligned with President Muizzu’s housing reform agenda.
