The government has spent more than USD 32 million on the dredging and development of the airport in Mulli, the Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, Dr Abdulla Muththalib has said, urging the people to fully exploit the investment to bring development to the entire Meemu Atoll.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday formally inaugurated Muli Airport, marking a pivotal moment for Meemu Atoll as it welcomes its first aviation facility. The milestone concludes a decades-long pursuit of enhanced air connectivity for the region.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Minister Dr. Muththalib said the dredging of the land in Muli to facilitate the airport project was started by President Dr Muizzu when he was the Housing Minister 11 years ago.
He noted the hard work of many that went into making this long awaited dream a reality.
"One of the projects the President asked to be completed with the highest priority since taking office was the Muli airport project. The project had been stalled for a long time. There were many variations that had not been approved,” he explained.
The push to develop Muli Airport gained momentum in 2021, when the government awarded the project contract to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC). Construction began in August of that year, following an agreement signed on 28 February 2021, with an investment of more than USD 12.97 million.
Despite its smaller population, the Minister said the naturally rich and diverse Meemu Atoll has great potential for tourism development. The airport project will prove to be a gateway to tourism investments and an important foundation for economic growth, he added.
"The government has spent USD 35 million on this project including the dredging work that started in 2014. That is more than USD 6,485 per capita. I would like to ask the people to exploit this huge investment and work together with the government to bring development to the Atoll,” the Minister said.
The airport's construction required extensive land reclamation, with 40 hectares reclaimed from the southeastern side of the island, supplemented by an additional 14 hectares surrounding the runway. The facility features a 1,200-metre-long, 30-metre-wide runway, a taxiway, and an aircraft apron, alongside a modern passenger terminal, a control tower, and supporting operational infrastructure.