Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) CEO and Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed has hailed the commencement of land reclamation for the Dhidhdhoo Airport project as a transformative milestone for the northern atoll.
Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of dredging operations, Shareef emphasised that the project will significantly boost the local economy and elevate Dhidhdhoo into a regional hub.
“This is not just an infrastructure project—it’s the realisation of a long-held dream for the people of Dhidhdhoo,” he said, expressing gratitude to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu for entrusting MACL with the development and for prioritising its swift execution.
The project, which involves adding 115 hectares of reclaimed land—effectively doubling the island’s size—will resolve chronic land shortages, enabling the construction of an airport, housing, and essential services. To accelerate progress, one of the world’s largest dredgers, “LEIV EIRIKSSON,” has been deployed.
MACL, already managing key airports including the Velana International Airport (VIA) and Hanimaadhoo International Airport, is simultaneously executing three major reclamation projects across the Maldives, he said.
Shareef urged the island’s residents to seize emerging opportunities, envisioning a modern, expanded Dhidhdhoo as a thriving centre of commerce and connectivity in the region.