President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has designated the construction of an airport on the remote island of Makunudhoo as a principal priority of his administration, pledging its swift completion alongside a suite of infrastructure and public service initiatives aimed at transforming the island’s connectivity, economic trajectory, and living standards.
During a recent visit to Makunudhoo, where he was received with notable warmth, President Muizzu underscored the strategic importance of the airport project, citing the island’s geographic isolation and the logistical challenges faced by its residents. He described the facility as essential not only for improving access but also for enabling sustainable long-term development.
The proposed airport will feature an 1,800-metre runway, supported by extensive land reclamation. “A total of 22 hectares will be reclaimed for the island's general requirements, with further land reclamation designated specifically for the airport's infrastructure. This critical undertaking will proceed with a high degree of priority,” the president stated.
Operational responsibilities of the airport will be assigned to the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), which will collaborate with the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) and relevant government ministries. “My utmost emphasis is placed on ensuring the swift completion of this project,” President Muizzu affirmed, assuring residents of his administration’s commitment to rapid and effective execution.
In tandem with the airport initiative, President Muizzu officiated the launch of several infrastructure projects during his visit. These included the introduction of passport issuance services, the awarding of contracts for land reclamation and coastal protection, and the formal commencement of road modernisation works.
The development agenda also encompassed the construction of a new health centre, a fitness and recreation facility, and a police station. The president announced that the health centre would be established as a Level 4 facility, equipped with expanded capacity and advanced medical services, including X-ray, scanning, and dialysis. He pledged to deploy specialist doctors to the centre and indicated that interim upgrades to existing facilities would be pursued within the current budget, where feasible.
Educational infrastructure was also addressed. President Muizzu reported that the multipurpose hall at Makunudhoo School is expected to be completed within six weeks, a milestone he believes will contribute meaningfully to academic advancement. On housing, he confirmed that a dedicated project would be launched following the completion of land reclamation, with funding allocated in the forthcoming national budget.
To reinforce the island’s economic base, the president announced that the existing ice plant would be transferred to the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), the state-owned fisheries enterprise, to ensure full operational capacity. President Muizzu concluded his remarks by stating that his next visit to Makunudhoo would be to commemorate the completion of the airport and other transformative projects currently underway.
The visit also included consultations with members of the Makunudhoo Island Council, the Women’s Development Committee (WDC), and representatives of local institutions. Council members raised several pressing concerns, including the need for accelerated completion of the airport and other foundational projects initiated during the presidential tour.
Additional requests focused on resolving electricity supply issues linked to the powerhouse, expediting the construction of the handball court, and establishing social housing units. The council members further highlighted the need for a new administrative building to address space constraints at its current premises.
President Muizzu pledged to review the matters raised and provided updates on ongoing projects through accompanying ministers and senior officials from state-owned enterprises.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new health centre was held during the president’s tour of Haa Dhaalu Atoll, led by Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim. The initiative marks a pivotal step in strengthening healthcare services on the island.
President Muizzu reiterated the government’s commitment to establishing the facility as a Level 4 centre, with enhanced capacity and a comprehensive range of medical services. Plans include the deployment of specialist doctors and the provision of X-ray, scanning, and dialysis capabilities. The project, awarded to Fenaka Corporation, carries a completion timeline of 900 days and an estimated cost of USD 6.72 million.
A formal ceremony was held to inaugurate the construction of a new police station in Makunudhoo, with the foundation stone laid by Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan. He was joined by Commissioner of Police Ismail Naveen, Fenaka Corporation Managing Director Mohamed Najaah, and the President of the Makunudhoo Council.
The initiative forms part of a national strategy to establish police stations and Maldives Police Service (MPS) operations on every inhabited island within two years. The government anticipates that this expansion will significantly enhance public safety across the country.
The presidential visit also saw the signing of a contract to modernise Makunudhoo’s road network. The agreement, formalised during the president's meeting with the residential community, entrusts the project to the Road Development Corporation (RDC).
The signing was attended by State Minister Hassan Rasheed of the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, and RDC Managing Director Ibrahim Nazeem. In his address to the residents, President Muizzu underscored the importance of road development as a foundational public service, noting its alignment with national efforts to upgrade infrastructure to contemporary standards, including the integration of drainage systems.
Passport issuance services were officially launched in Makunudhoo during the president’s visit, with the inauguration led by Minister Ali Ihusaan during President Muizzu's public meeting with residents.
This initiative is part of a broader government policy to ensure passport availability from every inhabited atoll, thereby eliminating the need for residents to travel to Malé. The service has already been introduced in 13 atolls, with further plans underway to facilitate national identity card issuance across the islands.
Arriving in Makunudhoo on Tuesday morning, President Muizzu was received by senior officials from the island’s institutions and a large gathering of residents. The reception reflected the community’s visible engagement and anticipation surrounding the presidential visit, underscoring the public’s alignment with the development agenda outlined during the tour.