20,000 applications received for housing, 17,000 in drafting stage

The government has estimated that approximately 37,000 applications will be submitted for flats under President Mohamed Muizzu’s ‘Emmenah Boahiyaavehikan’ (Housing for All) policy.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office on Tuesday, Housing Minister Abdulla Muththalib noted that 20,000 applications have officially been submitted so far under the housing scheme, adding that approximately 17,000 forms are currently in the drafting stage.

The Minister projected that once the pending draft applications are completed and submitted, the total number of applicants would rise to around 37,000.

“These figures clearly reflect the magnitude of the housing crisis and the high demand for housing solutions,” Minister Muththalib stated.

Recognizing the efforts undertaken by successive governments since 2008 to address housing challenges, the Minister confirmed that the current administration has commenced physical works on 3,260 housing units within the Greater Malé Area.

The Minister also outlined details of several ongoing housing projects and their respective sources of financing:

• 540 housing units financed by the Bank of Maldives (BML)
• 500 housing units developed through an interest-free loan from China
• 400 housing units developed with support from the Saudi Fund for Development
• Documentation finalized for the construction of 4,000 housing units in Gulhifalhu under the India Line of Credit (LOC)

Minister Muththalib noted that although these projects are subject to specific procedural requirements and may not always progress at the intended pace, the necessary financing for these initiatives has already been secured.

Speaking further, the Minister underscored that the current administration had faced difficulties in obtaining external financing due to the country’s high levels of national debt inherited upon taking office. As a result, the government has explored alternative housing development models, including the provision of government land and other concessions to local contractors. According to the Minister, these initiatives have already generated proposals for approximately 2,000 flats, which have since been submitted to the Economic Council for approval prior to contract signing and the commencement of construction.

The first phase of the “Housing for All” policy was opened for applications on January 18. Under the initiative, the government has decided to allocate a total of 7,900 flats and 15,000 land plots.

Of the 7,900 flats, 4,000 units have been designated for registered residents of Malé. 1,500 units are reserved for individuals residing in Malé who are not officially registered residents, while the remaining 2,400 units have been allocated for special categories determined by the government.