Former President Yameen says Male’ port is to be given to Dubai Ports World, government denies allegations

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has alleged that once the commercial port in Male’ is replaced with the new port in Thilafushi, the government plans to sell it over to ‘Dubai Ports World’. However, the government has denied these claims.

The former President also stated that carrying out this plan would be a large scale economic crime.

The project, which was initially announced during Yameen’s tenure, was transferred to Gulhifalhu by the former administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. However, the current government has decided to construct the port at Thilafushi instead and has already begun work on it.

Economic Minister, Mohamed Saeed, informed ‘Mihaaru’ that the government has no intention of granting the Thilafushi port to a foreign party.

In a speech given by Yameen during a People’s National Front (PNF) rally yesterday, he declared that the government made the decision to extend foreign land leases for 99 years in Thilafushi. His allegation is that the purpose of the extension is to grant ownership of the port to Dubai Ports World. He said that the decision would cause significant harm to the Maldives.

Dubai Ports World, a company owned by the Dubai government, has investments in multiple countries. The company also operates a transshipment port in Kochi, India.

“Those with an economic and financial understanding will know that the Maldives, surrounded by sea, serves as a crucial trade route for goods traveling from the East to the West and the West to the East via the Ihavandhippolhu channel in the North and the Addu channel in the South”, he said. “This is because all ships must pass through the Maldives before they reach their destination”.

Former President Yameen also said that approximately 60 percent of cargo ships pass through the Maldives, which results in significant economic benefits for the country. He mentioned that during his administration, Dubai Ports World offered to purchase the Thilafushi port but he declined the offer. He believed that the port could be developed by Maldivians and if it was given to another party, the Maldives would lose the benefits generated through the port.

“Their senior officials spoke to me twice about acquiring the Thilafushi-Male’ port. The person in charge of Dubai Ports World visited Male’ City twice. However, the port was not given”, he stated.

“When we did the calculations back then, we could have built a container terminal in Male’ with USD 80 million. If we look at the situation now, we could build it with USD 200 million”, he said. “That is the start”.

He further clarified that if the Thilafushi port is given to Dubai Ports World, it would result in an economic crime. He believes that the Maldives will not reap much benefits from renting it for [approximately] fifty years. Additionally, he said that the ships crossing the Maldives are a “gold mine” for Maldivians.

“If Dubai World is given the port, the price of goods coming into the Maldives will also increase. The Maldives will have no control over the Maldives’ port for a lengthy period," he said. “This is similar to selling the airport to GMR”.

According to Yameen, if the construction of the port is handed to Dubai Ports World, it will not be considered an international port. His reasoning was that Dubai Ports World has already built a bigger port in Kochi and as such, the Maldives’ port will remain a smaller port of the Kochi one.

“They will never create a free zone like they did in Dubai. There is a free port and free zone in Kochi”, he said. “Everything in this region will take place in Kochi. The Maldives will just remain as their satellite”. “The attempted acquisition of the Maldives port by Dubai Ports World is an attempt to prevent competition to the Kochi one. Hence, if this is done without extensive research, it will be a huge mistake”.

Yameen said that any incumbent President should undertake such actions through open discussions and in a transparent manner so that the public are aware of it.