The new government office complex in Hulhumalé, the "Umar Zahir Office Building," has been officially inaugurated.
The building, named after the long-serving statesman, the late Umar Zair, was opened on Wednesday morning at a special ceremony by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Cabinet ministers and senior government officials were also present at the opening.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President recalled the services and contributions of Umar Zahir and recognised his devotion to preserving national unity. He noted that the Huravee Building in Malé was recently demolished due to old age and highlighted the dilapidated state of the adjacent Ghaazee Building.
President Solih said that the new office complex was opened at an opportune time to cater to the growing need for new spaces to run government offices. He said that it was costly to operate government offices in rented spaces in the capital and that the new building would ensure some reprieve for the budget.
The decision to move certain government offices to Hulhumalé was made by the President in 2019. This is the first time government offices are being established outside of Malé.
The MVR 185 million project was awarded to the China-based Hunan Construction Engineering Group. The project agreement was signed in October 2019.
The new six-storey building, which features 25,000 square feet of office space, will house three ministries. The building directory is as follows:
Ground Floor – Parking
Second Floor – Ministry of Gender and Family
Third Floor – Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
Fourth Floor – Embassy of the United States of America in the Maldives
Fifth Floor – Ministry of Higher Education
Sixth Floor – Meeting rooms, seminar rooms, and a terrace
The late Umar Zahir was a state dignitary and an honoree of the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin (ODRI). Zahir spent over half his lifetime in the service of the government and nation. He was the first sports minister of the Maldives; however, he is most notable for the work he did during his tenure as the Minister of Public Works. During this time, he oversaw major developmental projects such as the first phase of Hulhumalé development, building the seawall around Malé with Japanese aid, and building harbours in Fuvahmulah in the Maldives’ south.
Zahir passed away on December 20, 2021, after being hospitalised for Covid-19. He was 85-years-old.
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