Land reclamation has commenced on the designated area for a waterfront and marina project to be developed by UAE’s Eagle Hills in Rasmalé, the land being reclaimed from Fushidhiggaru lagoon near Malé.
Satellite imagery and vessel tracking data analysed by Adhadhu reveal that the Jan De Nul dredger "Leiv Eiriksson," which was previously engaged in reclamation sites for the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), is now operating in the area.
The vessel's speed and route patterns confirm that dredging operations have begun. It is believed that the dredger is currently reclaiming "Site D," the largest designated site within the Rasmalé project.
This specific site was originally assigned to the Indian firm Mohan Mutha when the Rasmalé reclamation was divided among three contractors. However, no reclamation work had progressed on any sites under the company's purview since September last year.
The resumption of work at Mohan Mutha’s sites after a year-long hiatus is aimed at expediting the signing of the final agreement with Eagle Hills.
The sites originally assigned to Mohan Mutha include:
- Site D – 264 hectares
- Site F – 24 hectares
- Site G – 31 hectares
- Site L – 59 hectares
A source informed Adhadhu that the government has instructed the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and MACL to complete the Rasmalé reclamation by the end of this year. The source added that both companies have provided assurances that the work will be finalised within the next two months.
To date, reclamation has been fully completed only in the southern sites of Fushidhiggaru lagoon. The government has stated that these areas, totalling approximately 500 hectares, will be designated as residential zones. The remaining area is slated for the Eagle Hills project.
Latest satellite imagery indicates that approximately 700 hectares have been reclaimed from Fushidhiggaru lagoon so far. This accounts for 70 percent of the roughly 1,000 hectares authorised under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.
In addition to MACL, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is also involved in the Rasmalé reclamation. While CHEC has completed work on "Site C," operations at "Site E" have yet to commence.
The Rasmalé project was officially launched on December 17, 2023, with a pledge to complete reclamation within eight months. However, the project failed to meet that deadline or any subsequent timelines, with over 300 days having passed since its inception.
