Villingili International Airport and 17-resort tourism zone to begin next month under new contract, Ameen says

Tourism Minister Mohamed Ameen says work on the GA. Villingili International Airport and the associated 17-resort tourism zone will begin next month. 

Responding to a question at the Ahaa forum on Sunday evening, the minister said the government is preparing to sign a new contract to start the long-delayed project.

The Villingili airport and integrated tourism zone were previously awarded on February 22, 2024 to BESIX, a Belgian multinational construction company. BESIX is known for major global projects, including work on the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The earlier agreement was valued at around USD 750 million. However, Minister Ameen did not disclose why the government decided to cancel the contract and hand the project over to a different party.

The project is one of the largest tourism infrastructure developments planned for Huvadhoo Atoll, featuring a 3,400-metre runway, a heliport, a marina, and 17 resorts expected to generate thousands of beds. Ameen said the government aims to mobilize work next month under the new contractor, with the goal of accelerating development in the southern region.