Attorney General Ahmed Usham stated today that while a commercial terms agreement was signed with Eagle Hills to execute the "Maldives Waterfront and Marina Project," the project will only commence after signing additional agreements.

Former President Abdulla Yameen characterized the Maldivian government's decision to lease 500 hectares of land in Rasmalé to the UAE-based company Eagle Hills for 99 years to carry out the project as selling off that land.

Responding to Yameen's accusation in a post on X, Usham stated that "definitive agreements" must be signed before the Rasmalé project begins, and relevant laws must be passed by the People's Majlis beforehand.

"The project planned to be carried out in Rasmalé will be governed under the Real Estate Act currently being formulated. Regarding this project, so far only a Letter of Intent (Commercial Terms Agreement) has been signed. Prior to the commencement of the project, in addition to signing definitive agreements formulated through further discussions based on the terms in this agreement, relevant laws must be passed by the Majlis," the AG stated in that post.

Yameen, who has been strongly opposing the proposed project in Rasmalé, described it as "selling off" the country and warned that legal action could be taken against Attorney General Usham and Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib in connection with the matter.

Even though 500 hectares of land in Rasmalé is being given to Eagle Hills for 99 years in the manner islands and lagoons are typically leased for tourism in the Maldives, Yameen described it as selling off the land.

Responding to Yameen's remarks, Usham noted that the period for leasing resorts was extended to 99 years during Yameen's own administration, whereas islands were previously leased for 50 years.