President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday inaugurated a suite of development projects in Vilufushi, advancing his administration’s agenda to decentralise essential services and accelerate national progress. The visit marked the launch of a regional airport project, a 30-bed hospital project, and a comprehensive road modernisation programme, alongside new banking and passport services.
In his address to Vilufushi residents, President Muizzu underlined that public support is the most vital element in establishing peace and enabling national development. He affirmed his government’s commitment to delivering services equitably across the country, despite the economic challenges it inherited. He stated that the administration is managing both foreign and domestic debt without resorting to debt monetisation, in line with his campaign pledges.
The president described public support for peace as an invisible but powerful force that enables progress. He assured that development projects are proceeding according to a structured national plan, with initiatives not launched this year to be included in the following year’s budget. He called for a collective focus on the future of the nation’s children and urged citizens to move beyond past cycles of revenge and destruction. Cooperation from all sectors, including political stakeholders, he said, is essential to correct the nation’s course and achieve shared goals.
At the heart of the president’s visit was the Vilufushi airport project, which he described as his most important promise to the island’s residents. He pledged that the airport would be completed within his presidential term, setting a maximum timeline of 30 months.
The facility will feature a 1,800-metre runway, with land reclamation and the construction of essential infrastructure, including a terminal and fire station, scheduled for completion within the current administration. The Maldives Airports Company Ltd. (MACL) has been assigned both construction and operational responsibilities, with the president assuring systematic and diligent execution.
The development contract was awarded to MACL, with the agreement signed by Minister of Finance and Planning Moosa Zameer and MACL Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed. Immediately following the signing, Minister Zameer launched the land reclamation phase, joined by the MACL chief, the local Member of Parliament, and the President of the Vilufushi Council.
Healthcare infrastructure also received a boost with the laying of the foundation stone for a new 30-bed hospital. The project, awarded to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), is scheduled for completion within 18 months.
Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim officiated the ceremony, attended by MTCC Managing Director Ahmed Saudee and local dignitaries. President Muizzu pledged that the facility would be developed into a modern, spacious hospital with expanded specialties and upgraded services. As an interim measure, he announced efforts to appoint a permanent paediatrician and gynaecologist to the island.
Responding to a request from the local community, President Muizzu formally designated Masjid Al-Umar Farooq as an Islamic Centre. He pledged government support for the establishment of auxiliary facilities, including a library and classrooms.
Constructed by the Nalahiya Group, the mosque currently hosts an outreach centre affiliated with the national Quranic Centre and facilitates a Quran memorisation programme led by a foreign instructor.
The island’s road network is set for major upgrades under a development initiative contracted to the Road Development Corporation (RDC). The agreement, valued at USD 3.88 million from the state budget, was signed by Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib and RDC Managing Director Ibrahim Nazeem.
Scheduled for completion within 730 days, the project will modernise the island’s primary ring road. President Muizzu described the development as pivotal to both urban mobility and economic growth, with the government anticipating a high-quality road network upon completion.
Financial services were expanded with the laying of the foundation stone for a new Bank of Maldives (BML) Islamic branch, coinciding with the launch of a 24-hour ATM service. President Muizzu officiated the ceremony, joined by Finance Minister Moosa Zameer, BML Chairperson Ahmed Ali Habeeb, BML Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Mohamed Shareef, the local MP, and the Vilufushi Council President.
The ATM will offer round-the-clock services including cash withdrawals, deposits, bill payments, and fund transfers for individuals and businesses.
Passport issuance was decentralised as part of a broader government initiative to expand access to essential services. Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan inaugurated the service during the president’s public meeting.
Passport services are now operational in over 15 atolls, with President Muizzu setting an accelerated target of October for nationwide coverage. The expansion has also reached international territory, with Malaysia becoming the first foreign country to host the service.
President Muizzu was welcomed by a large crowd at the Vilufushi harbour, comprising heads of local institutions and members of the public. The visit forms part of the president’s ongoing tour across the country, aimed at engaging directly with island councils and communities to assess development priorities. The presidential delegation included several cabinet ministers and senior government officials.