Construction Ministry signs MVR 126m deal to redevelop Male' local market

The Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure has awarded a contract to develop a modern market complex on the land currently occupied by the Male' local market.

The project was awarded to TrustEng Maldives Pvt Ltd for MVR 126,359,594, the ministry said Sunday. The agreement was signed by Permanent Secretary Mohamed Shaamil on behalf of the ministry, while Mohamed Abdul Hadi, Managing Director of TrustEng Maldives, signed on behalf of the company.

The project must be completed within 600 days.

According to the ministry, the development will include a six‑storey wet market complex with a basement parking area. The ground floor will house a fish market, while the first three floors will be dedicated to a vegetable market. A food court will be developed on the fourth floor.

މާލޭ ވެޓް މާކެޓް ކޮމްޕްލެކްސް ތަރައްޤީކުރުމުގެ މަޝްރޫޢުގެ އެއްބަސްވުމުގައި ޓްރަސްޓެންގް މޯލްޑިވްސް ޕްރައިވެޓް ލިމިޓެޑާއެކު ސޮއިކޮށްފިއެވެ.

މި އެއްބަސްވުމުގައި މިނިސްޓްރީ އޮފް ކޮންސްޓްރަކްޝަން، ހައުސިންގ އެންޑް އިންފްރާސްޓްރަކްޗަރގެ ފަރާތުން ސޮއިކުރެއްވީ ޕަރމަނަންޓް ސެކްރެޓަރީ… pic.twitter.com/Jdy1kUIhMJ

— Ministry of Construction, Housing & Infrastructure (@MoCImv) March 15, 2026

The decision to redevelop the local market was taken during the tenure of former Male' City Mayor Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

However, current Mayor Adam Azim has previously said the project faced delays due to unclear agreements signed with two companies. He said one agreement was valued at USD 6.1 million and another at USD 9.6 million, and claimed he was not informed of who authorised the deals. Azim said the later agreement halted progress and created a risk of losing the land allocated for the market.

Details of those earlier agreements have not been disclosed. The ministry has now formally awarded the project to TrustEng Maldives.