After two decades of growing, the Maldives construction sector now has about $ 2 billion in construction activities. Several infrastructure projects are underway to 57 of 1,190 islands located in the south -Sri Lanka and India in the Indian Ocean.
The current projects include the revised Master Plan for Hulhumalé, 8 km north -east of the capital of the male and built in 468 hectares of recovered land. Belgian Dredging International completed the second phase of expansion of 244 hectares of Hulhumalé in 2015, pumping six million cubic meters of sand from the seabed to lift the island to more than 2 m above sea level.
After a temporary stop due to environmental problems, the Hulhumalé Terres Claim project has been resumed. The project aims to recover 63 hectares, with 23 hectares already completed by Capital Marine and Civil Construction (CMCC), based in Sri Lanka. The Hulhumalé project has undergone multiple phases of development. Initially it cost $ 63 million, followed by additional $ 50 million for later expansion. Recently $ 130 million housing development granted to the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) in India is funded by a loan assistance program.
First line of climate change
As a more flattened country in the world, with the highest natural point only 2.4 m above sea level, climate change and sea level increase are an immediate concern for the Maldives. Construction projects are facing significant challenges, such as climate, increase in costs; Labor dependence on global sources; financing, transparency and policy gap; and a dependence on imports of materials.
The expansion of $ 1 billion from Velana International Airport (VIA), the only gateway to the country for international visitors, is a key project for a national economy, depending mainly on tourism. Multiple reviews of agreements and design changes over the years have resulted in chronic delays, but now it is expected that expansion will be operational in October.
Saudi Binladin Group has a design creation contract for the new 78.00 square meters that will host more than 7 million passengers a year. Beijing Urban Construction Group built the new track 3,400 m long 65 m wide. Landrum and Brown served as a principal consultant in studies of slopes and bleeding deadlines. International, specialized in prefabricated construction and landscaping, were hired by Saudi Binladin to execute assembly works. Setec was responsible for the building modeling design of the building from the concept to the final development. Singapore Surbana Jurong performed as a project management consultant, supervising the redevelopment of the aerial part, the expansion of the passenger terminal, construction work and the design review process, while the QSSI consulting group managed contracts.
The service roads that connect the airport facilities have not yet been commissioned. BUCG is increasing the capacity of 100,000 to 300,000 metric tonnes for the load terminal and the fuel farm of 37,000 square meters, which will increase the storage capacity to 100 million liters. In addition, BUCG last year received the contract to reconstruct a 3,200 m track to improve operational efficiency.
With a capacity to accommodate 100 seaplanes, the 18,000 -square -meter noovilu seaplane terminal of $ 50 million built by Bucg on Via where recovered lands is the largest in the world. Includes a hangar of seavions with additional 14,000 square meters and a terminal with 42 halls.
China has played an important role in the development of Maldivian’s infrastructure, mainly through its belt and road initiative (Bri). In 2023, China pledged $ 11 billion in additional investments to support transport, tourism and urban development in Maldives. While the specific details of the project are unpartened, the projects prior to Bri are the Sinamalé bridge, Connecting Malé, Hulhulé and Hulhumalé. However, concerns about debt sustainability persist.
The logistical and procedural challenges have led to delays of China -supported projects in the Maldives. The redevelopment project of Malé Road, initially established by 2024, was postponed in 2025 due to bureaucratic approval processes and feasibility studies. The Gulhifalhu Municipal Road and Municipal Infrastructure Project, awarded to China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), has also undergone mishap in its survey and design phase. The project includes electrical distribution, water and sewer systems and road development, and it is expected that the technical evaluations are expected to be completed.
