A total of 112 hectares of land has been reclaimed in Haa Alifu Dhidhdhoo within 50 days, President Mohamed Muizzu announced last night.
In a post on X, the President shared photos of the newly reclaimed area and said the project launched on January 4 for the development of an airport and housing has now been completed.
According to the President, the reclamation fulfills a key pledge made during his 2023 presidential campaign to expand Dhidhdhoo, which has a population of more than 3,000, for major infrastructure development including a domestic airport.
The reclamation was carried out using the Leiv Eiriksson, a trailing suction hopper dredger brought to the Maldives by Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).
With a dredging capacity of 46,000 cubic metres per load, the vessel is described as one of the two most high tech and powerful trailing suction hopper dredgers in operation globally.
During a previous visit to the island, President Muizzu assured residents that the promised domestic airport would be delivered within his current term in office.
The reclaimed land is expected to facilitate both airport development and new housing projects in Dhidhdhoo.
