The government has announced plans to hire consultants to prepare a master plan for Rasmalé, a new urban centre under development on reclaimed land near Malé. Officials have described the project as the largest housing initiative in the country’s history.
According to the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the selected consultants will be responsible for creating a plan that is economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and aligned with the Climate Risk Adaptive Island Planning Model, a framework designed to address the long-term risks of climate change.
Rasmalé is being built on 1,009 hectares of reclaimed land in the Fushidhiggaru lagoon. The development forms a central part of the government’s effort to tackle the housing shortage facing the Maldives, with reclamation work having begun in December 2023.
Envisioned as an “Eco City,” the new urban hub aims to become the Indian Ocean’s first “Zero Carbon City.” The Planning Ministry has said the project will introduce environmentally friendly innovations and advanced technologies, serving as a long-term framework that anticipates the challenges of rising sea levels, shifting weather patterns, and other climate-related risks.
Once complete, Rasmalé is expected to include 65,000 housing units. A Chinese company has already been contracted to develop 15,000 units under the project’s first phase.
The ministry stated that the selection process for consultants will follow the Quality and Cost Based Selection method, as outlined in the Public Finance Regulation. Expressions of Interest are due by 14 October.
