Financial expert Ismail Zariyand has characterised the allocation of 500 hectares of land to the UAE-based Eagle Hills for the Rasmalé Waterfront and Marina project as the beginning of a broader trend of selling off Maldivian islands and lagoons to foreign interests.
Speaking on Adhadhu’s "Etherefuh" program, Zariyand stated that the decision to grant a portion of Rasmalé to Eagle Hills marks the onset of a looming issue.
"I view this as a calculated plan by the current administration to systematically sell off the country's land, reefs, and key strategic areas to foreign parties. By amending local council laws, they are facilitating a structured scheme to sell various regions of the Maldives to those who support their interests," Zariyand said.
Zariyand further noted that the People’s National Congress (PNC) supermajority in Parliament has amended legislation to enable such transactions. He added that these legal changes were designed to make it difficult for future administrations to reclaim land leased by the current government on a long-term basis.
Furthermore, Zariyand alleged that Eagle Hills and its partner companies maintain close ties with Zionist interests.
He warned that if a portion of Rasmalé is handed over to Eagle Hills, there is a high probability of settlement by dual-passport-holding Zionists.
"While Israeli passports may be banned in the Maldives, an individual with dual citizenship could still purchase a home here," Zariyand remarked.
Pointing out that those who purchase properties developed by Eagle Hills in Rasmalé would be entitled to 99-year visas, Zariyand emphasised that such an arrangement would allow dual-passport holders with Zionist affiliations to reside in the Maldives for nearly a century.
