President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has issued a decree separating Kadevaareha Island from the jurisdiction of Gaafu Dhaalu Hoadhedhdhoo, paving the way for tourism development on the island.
The decision was formalised under Presidential Decree No. 10/2025 on Sunday and comes under the authority granted to the President by Section 56(a) of the Decentralisation Act. The revised administrative boundary has now been reflected in an updated chart published in the Government Gazette.
According to the President’s Office, the move supports a broader push to advance integrated tourism in the southern region of Huvadhu Atoll. President Muizzu has pledged to accelerate tourism growth in the atoll, which is among the largest natural atolls in the Maldives.
Prior to the decree, the Hoadhedhdhoo Island Council had already initiated plans to develop a tourist resort on Kadevaareha. In 2023, the Council issued a concept paper proposing the construction of 100 villas on the island, with projected annual revenue of USD 38 million at 70 percent occupancy. The paper estimated a net profit ranging between MVR 19 million and MVR 22 million, with an anticipated profit margin of 40 to 50 percent.
Expressions of interest were also invited from local and international investors to carry out the development, but the island’s jurisdiction remained a point of procedural concern until this recent change.
President Muizzu has stated that necessary steps will be taken to allocate Kadevaareha specifically for tourism, indicating a clear intent to convert the administrative adjustment into a commercially viable project.
