President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that electronic immigration gates (e-gates) will be installed at Velana International Airport (VIA) before the end of this year, in a move aimed at reducing long queues at border control counters.
In a post on X, the President said the e-gates, equipped with the latest technology, will be installed at the new terminal and will allow passengers to clear immigration through facial recognition after scanning their passports.
A total of 20 e-gates, 10 each at the arrival and departure terminals, will be operational before January 1, 2026. Similar e-gates will also be installed at other international airports in the Maldives next year, he added.
Home Minister Ali Ihusaan described the initiative as a digital solution to improve border security and streamline passenger movement.
ވެލާނާ އިންޓަރނޭޝަނަލް އެއަރޕޯޓް ބޭނުންކުރައްވާ ދިވެހިންނާއި ފަތުރުވެރިން ބޯޑަރ ކޮންޓްރޯލް ކައުންޓަރުތަކުގައި ގިނައިރު ވަންދެން ކިއުގައި ހޭދަކުރަންޖެހޭ ޖެހުން ނިމުމަކަށް ގެނައުމަށްޓަކާ، އެންމެ ޒަމާނީ ޓެކްނޮލޮޖީގެ ފީޗަރތައް ހިމެނޭ އީގޭޓްތައް އެ އެއަރޕޯރޓުގެ އާ ޓާމިނަލުގައި… pic.twitter.com/OO5aXLR8vD
— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) November 19, 2025
The development of VIA’s new terminal began in 2016 during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The terminal was officially opened on July 26 this year to mark the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day and is designed to serve 7.5 million passengers annually.
The project cost is estimated at MVR 7 billion. Although the terminal has been inaugurated, it is currently being used only by Maldivian Airlines. Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) previously stated that airlines would be transitioned to the new terminal one at a time.
The Maldives currently has two other international airports: Hanimaadhoo International Airport in the north and Gan International Airport in the south.