Minister: Israelis and Israeli-controlled entities will be barred from owning property at Rasmale’

Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib has announced safeguards to prevent Israeli nationals and Israeli-controlled entities from owning any property at Rasmale’.

On September 21, Abu Dhabi-based real estate giant Eagle Hills signed a commercial terms agreement or letter of intent for a mega project to develop a new integrated island destination in Rasmale’, including international hotels and resorts, premium and branded residences, a world-class marina, waterfront promenades, restaurants, shops, leisure and wellness centers.

Muthalib took to Linkedin on Monday to address public apprehension regarding the USD 20 billion Maldives Waterfront and Marina Project.

Muthalib noted that much of the public apprehension is not about the valuation or lease terms, but fears that Rasmale’ could become a foothold for Zionist settlement.

But these fears are unfounded, he said.

“There is no precedent for it. Zionism is a project to build a Jewish state in historic Palestine, and its settlement programs are designed to bring Jews from other countries to Israel, not to send them elsewhere,” he said.

“Where Israeli settlement has spread, it has been in territory Israel took and held by military force: the occupied Palestinian territories, the Golan Heights, and Sinai until it was returned to Egypt. There is no reported case anywhere such a takeover happening through foreigners buying holiday homes or leasehold property in a sovereign country that controls its own borders, visas and land.”

Muthalib said that those who claim otherwise are spreading unfounded fear, and abusing the Palestinian struggle and Maldivians’ sentiments to score political points without any say from the Palestinian people themselves.

“Palestinians deserve our solidarity, not to be used as a prop in our domestic politics,” he said.

The Maldives has had a ban on Israeli passports in place since April 2025.

But Muthalib noted that many Israelis have dual citizenship, meaning they can enter using their other passport, as Immigration cannot verify dual citizenship at the border.

He said that a property purchase gives Maldivian authorities a far better chance to close this loophole than a border check ever could.

Muthalib announced plans to roll out safeguards to strengthen the protections already in place, including exclusion by Israeli nationality across the whole ownership chain.

He said that Israeli nationals or Israeli-controlled entities would be allowed as buyers, beneficial owners, shareholders, financiers or sales agents.

“Every buyer and beneficial owner would declare every nationality they hold or have held. A false declaration would void the lease, the property would revert to the state, and the purchase price could be forfeited. The checks would repeat at every transfer,” he said.

Muthalib added that investors would be eligible for the corporate residence visa introduced in 2015, just like investing in any other eligible business.

He said that every application would be subject to the Israeli passport ban and to nationality screening.

He added that owning a property, even as an eligible buyer, would never lead to permanent residency or citizenship, and that caps would limit how large a share of the units any single nationality or individual can hold.

“The land stays ours. Only approved buyers could hold a lease, and every buyer would pay for it. No buyer would have the option to renew lease and hold a property in perpetuity. There would be no freehold,” he said.

Muthalib said that the government’s aim is for Maldivians to have the first right to buy a share of units in every phase, paid in Maldivian rufiyaa. He added that ownership caps for foreign buyers would not apply to Maldivians.

Muthalib said that the Maldivians can stand firmly against Israel’s conduct and in support of Palestine, and still build their nation without compromising those values.

“In fact, building our own economy is how we protect that stance. A Maldives that can pay its own way does not have to choose between providing for its people and standing by its principles,” he said.

In an exclusive interview on Thursday, Mohamed Alabbar, the founder and chairman of Eagle Hills, told Sun that the company will fully comply with Maldives’ laws, adding that the project offers numerous benefits for local businesses.