Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed has described the upgrade of Maafaru International Airport as a major step forward for the economy of the Maldives.
Speaking during the ceremony held on Tuesday to celebrate the official completion of the Maafaru International Airport project, Minister Saeed said Noonu Atoll is renowned for its tourism, with 2,500 beds currently in operation including high-end resorts.
The development of the airport to international standards will come as a major relief for the resorts, guesthouses and economic activities in the Atoll, which in turn will also provide a great boost for the economy of the country, he explained.
The Minister pointed out that the Maldives’ economy was in an extremely difficult position when President Dr Mohamed Muizzu took office in November 2023, adding that the President exercised patience and wisdom while working closely with both local and foreign industry partners to navigate a way out of the economic challenges.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the President for his efforts to elevate Maldives’ tourism, enhance the entire tourism industry and diversify the economy,” he said.
The two pronged Maafaru International Airport project was funded by the United Arab Emirates through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD).
Under the first phase, a 2,200-metre runway, passenger terminal building and VIP lounge have been developed along with a fire and rescue station, control tower and passenger jetty.
Construction of the Maafaru Airport began on 23 January 2018 with the first phase of the airport completed and commercial flight operations launched on 1 December 2019.
The second phase of the project saw the runway extended by 650 meters to accommodate Boeing 777-ER300 aircrafts along with shore protection and upgrading of the runway lights.
The entire airport project, including the second phase, was completed in December last year with the Abu Dhabi Fund having provided more than USD 76 million for the two phases of the project.