Fayyaz Says Hankede Halt Meant to Undermine Addu’s Self-Sufficiency

Opposition leader and MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has accused the Muizzu government of deliberately halting the Hankede Integrated Tourism Project in Addu City to prevent the region from achieving economic self-sufficiency.

Fayyaz, who led the project during his tenure as Economic Minister under the Solih administration, made the comments in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday.

He said the previous government had guaranteed a total investment of US$400 million for Addu City’s development. The current administration’s decision to suspend the Hankede Integrated Tourism Project, he argued, was a significant setback for the city’s progress.

Fayyaz said the project has stalled because the government is focused on restructuring the debt. “This is what the government is doing to prevent the people of Addu City from standing on their own feet,” he wrote.

He also criticised the government’s plan to convert Hankede into a halal tourism destination, stating that the project cannot be implemented under such a model. Instead, he suggested that other dredged islands in Addu City could be allocated for halal tourism, if the government insists on pursuing that approach.

The Hankede Integrated Tourism Project, launched under the Maldives Fund Management Corporation (MFMC), was contracted to China National Electrical Engineering Company (CNEC), with financing from the Bank of China. The US$142.9 million loan has reportedly been delayed due to complications with debt restructuring, leaving the project in limbo.

Although Home Minister Ali Ihsan inaugurated the project in Addu City earlier this year, no physical work has begun on the site due to the funding delays.

The Muizzu administration has since announced its intention to develop Hankede under a broader halal tourism initiative spanning six islands. However, the Tourism Ministry has not clarified the status of the previous integrated project or revealed any new investor for the current plan. The ministry said it is still working on procedural aspects required for implementation.

Despite its strategic location and long-standing plans for tourism development, Hankede remains undeveloped, with successive governments failing to move forward with major infrastructure projects on the island.