The modernisation of Malé’s north-northwestern waterfront, encompassing the market district, has delivered significant logistical relief for maritime vessels transporting goods to the outer islands, as well as for commuters and businesses dependent on the area.
Undertaken by the administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the project aimed to bring the district’s infrastructure to contemporary standards. In December 2025, authorities closed the harbour to install a paved asphalt surface on the waterfront road, initiating a redevelopment programme that included the reconstruction of critical harbour facilities. With restricted zones now reopened, the loading and unloading of cargo for vessels bound for the outer atolls has been markedly streamlined.
During construction, vessels were relocated and large sections of Boduthakurufaanu Magu and the North Harbour were cordoned off to rebuild the inner quay wall. The closure disrupted docking zones for inter-island transport and fishing fleets, but the reopening of the market roadway has since eased daily operations. Central to the initiative was the replacement of the deteriorated quay wall, spanning 260 metres, alongside the expansion of pedestrian pavements by three metres to facilitate cargo transfer. The thoroughfare itself was widened by nearly six metres, providing critical spatial relief to a previously constrained corridor. Work continues on service huts designed to supply water and electricity directly to docked vessels.
The market district has long been synonymous with congestion, serving as the docking hub for vessels from the outer atolls while hosting the Fish Market, the Local Market, and the Travellers’ Market. Transport vehicles routinely faced delays approaching the harbour, compounded by limited space and prolonged loading procedures, conditions that worsened during Ramadan.
This year, however, congestion was alleviated by the introduction of a dedicated roadside lane for loading and unloading. The structured zone preserved an unobstructed thoroughfare, allowing traffic to move freely and reducing the chronic gridlock that once paralysed the district.