The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has completed the dredging of 41 hectares of land in 20 days as part of the land reclamation project for airport development and essential infrastructure in H.A. Dhidhdhoo.
The reclamation work began on the morning of January 5 under MACL’s western dredging project, which aims to add a total of 110 hectares to the island. With 41 hectares completed, MACL reports that 36.6 percent of the project is now done.
The dredging is being carried out by the Leiv Eiriksson, a Luxembourg-based dredger measuring 223 meters long and 41 meters wide, with a daily capacity of 46,000 cubic meters of sand extraction.
According to the Dhidhdhoo City Council, the project is expected to be completed within three months.
The airport development in Dhidhdhoo is a key component of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s regional development policy. During a visit to the island in late January 2025, the President pledged that the airport would be built at a rapid pace, and that he would personally inaugurate the first flight upon completion.
The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) was awarded the construction contract on April 19, 2024.
Dhidhdhoo is located approximately 15–20 minutes by launch from Hanimadhoo International Airport, making it a strategic location for regional connectivity.