The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has temporarily suspended the registration of new vehicles under expatriates as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion.
Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen announced the decision on X, stating that the pause will remain in place while amendments are made to inland transport laws. He confirmed that the legislative work is under way but did not provide further details.
The move follows earlier remarks by Minister Ameen, who told Parliament on 27 October that the ministry is working with the Attorney General’s Office to introduce legal provisions to limit vehicle registrations, including those issued to companies. At present, local councils have the authority to set caps on vehicle numbers in their respective jurisdictions, but efforts to reach a solution with Malé City Council have so far stalled. He said the proposed amendments should be ready for parliamentary submission within two to three weeks.
The minister also acknowledged delays in planned parking infrastructure. He said handovers to contractors for new parking buildings in Malé and Hulhumalé would take place within a month. In October 2024, the ministry signed an agreement with the Housing Development Corporation to construct 15 parking facilities across the Greater Malé Region, creating over 4,000 parking spaces.
Minister Ameen noted that vehicle registrations in Malé have already dropped by 74 percent compared with 2023 and reiterated that preventing illegal registrations remains a priority as the government works to manage congestion alongside expanding infrastructure.
