Ilmuveringe Jamiyya relays concerns regarding Rasmale’ project to Minister Shaheem

The ‘Ilmuveringe Jamyiyya’ (Maldivian Scholars Association) has raised concerns over the "Maldives Waterfront and Marina" project in Rasmalé during a meeting with Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed.

In a post on 'X', the association stated that religious scholars have expressed serious concerns about the mega-project in Rasmalé. During the meeting with Minister Shaheem, the association highlighted potential risks the project could pose to foreign settlement in the Maldives, the country's Islamic identity, sovereignty, independence, economic autonomy, and culture.

The association noted that its concerns were based on information obtained from relevant government authorities so far. According to the post, it also requested that Minister Shaheem convey these concerns to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Maldivian Scholars Association has also met with Infrastructure Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, Attorney General Ahmed Usham, and Economic Minister Saeed.

ރަސްމާލޭގައި ސަރުކާރުން ކުރިއަށްގެންދަން ނިންމާފައިވާ ރިޔަލްއެސްޓޭޓް ޑިވެލޮޕްމަންޓް ޒޯން މަޝްރޫޢާ ގުޅޭ ގޮތުން ދީނީ ޢިލްމުވެރިންގެ ބޮޑެތި ކަންބޮޑުވުންތަކެއް ހުރުމުން، އިސްލާމީ ކަންތައްތަކާއި އަވްޤާފާ ބެހޭ ވަޒީރު ޑރ. މުހައްމަދު ޝަހީމް ޢަލީ ސަޢީދާ ޢިލްމުވެރިންގެ ގުޅުމުން ބައްދަލުކޮށްފީމެވެ. މި ބައްދަލުކުރެއްވުމުގައި ޢިލްމުވެރިންގެ ގުޅުމުން ވަނީ ރަސްމާލެ މަޝްރޫއުގެ ސަބަބުން ދިވެހި ރާއްޖޭގައި ބޭރު މީހުން ރަށްވެހިވެ، ރާއްޖޭގެ އިސްލާމީ ވަޙްދަތާއި، ސިޔާދަތާއި މިނިވަންކަމާއި، އިޤްތިޞާދީ އަމިއްލަވަންތަކަމާއި ދިވެހި ސަޤާފަތަށް ކޮށްފާނެ ނުރައްކާތެރި އަސަރުތަކާ މެދު ހުރި ކަންބޮޑުވުންތައް ހިއްސާކޮށްފައެވެ. މި ކަންބޮޑުވުންތައް ޢިލްމުވެރިންގެ ގުޅުމުން ހުށައަޅާފައިވަނީ ޢިލްމުވެރިންގެ ގުޅުމުން ސަރުކާރުގެ ކަމާބެހޭ ފަރާތްތަކުން މިހާތަނަށް އެއްކޮށްފައިވާ ގިނަ މަޢުލޫމާތުތަކުގެ މައްޗަށް ބިނާކޮށެވެ. ޢިލްމުވެރިންގެ ގުޅުމުން ޙިއްސާކޮށްފައިވާ ނުރައްކާތައް އިސްލާމީ ކަންތައްތަކާއި އަވްޤާފާ ބެހޭ ވަޒީރު ޑރ. މުޙައްމަދު ޝަހީމް ޢަލީ ސަޢީދަށް ތަފްޞީލުކޮށްދިނުމަށް ފަހު، އެ ހުރިހާ ކަންބޮޑުވުންތައް ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ޑރ. މުޙައްމަދު މުޢިއްޒަށް ޙިއްސާކޮށްދެއްވުމަށް ޢިލްމުވެރިން ވަނީ މިނިސްޓަރުގެ އަރިހުން އެދިފައެވެ. @presidencymv @MVIaffairs

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Attorney General Usham previously stated that the Rasmalé development would proceed under a newly drafted Real Estate Act. He noted that physical construction would commence only after the Parliament passes the legislation and final agreements are signed following further discussions.

A key component of the project is the development of 5,000 housing units in Hulhumalé, with Mohamed Alabbar estimating the cost at approximately USD 500 million. He stated that Eagle Hills would provide the initial investment for the housing development and recover the funds as the wider Rasmalé project progresses.

Eagle Hills expects the Rasmalé project to generate significant economic benefits for the Maldives. In an interview with 'Sun', the company's chairman, Mohamed Alabbar, projected that the completed development would attract an additional one million tourists to the Maldives. He also stated that the construction phase would generate 40,000 jobs, with between 15,000 and 18,000 permanent jobs created once the project becomes fully operational.

The mega-project, estimated to require a total investment of USD 20 billion, encompasses hotels, resorts, luxury residences, a marina, waterfront promenades, and healthcare and educational facilities.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has declined to accept a constitutional case seeking to halt the decision to allocate 500 hectares of land in Rasmalé to UAE-based Eagle Hills. The case challenged the allocation on constitutional grounds.

Some political figures and activists in the Maldives have also expressed concerns that the project could allow Israeli citizens to purchase property in the area. However, both the Maldivian government and Eagle Hills have maintained that the agreement does not pose such a risk.