At Hiyaa lift ceremony, Muthalib says govt plans to allow residents to use allocated land for businesses

The government intends to expand services in Hulhumale' Phase II by allowing privately allocated land to be used for non-housing purposes, Housing Minister Dr Abdulla Muthalib said on Sunday evening.

Speaking at the ceremony held to mark the completion of the project to install additional lifts in the Hiyaa towers, Muthalib said the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) does not have sufficient land under its control to meet all service needs in the growing city.

He noted that more than 2,000 plots have already been allocated to residents from the second and third phases of Hulhumale'.

“So our understanding now should be that not every service required by the people has to be provided through HDC-controlled land,” he said.

Muthalib said land allocated to residents in Hulhumale' is currently restricted to residential use, but the government believes these plots should be opened for commercial development so people can benefit directly from their land.

ގިނަ އާއިލާތަކެއް ދިރިއުޅެމުންދާ ހިޔާ ފްލެޓްތަކުގައި، ކޮންމެ ދުވަހަކު ކުރިމަތިލާންޖެހޭ އެންމެ ބޮޑު އެއް ގޮންޖެހުމަކީ ލިފްޓަށް މަޑުކުރަން ޖެހުން.

ހިޔާ ފްލެޓްތަކުގައި އިތުރު ލިފްޓް ހަރުކުރުމުގެ މަޝްރޫޢު ކާމިޔާބުކަމާއެކު ނިމި، އެ ޚިދުމަތް ރަސްމީކޮށް ފެށުމާ ގުޅިގެން "މަގޭ ހިޔާ"ގެ… pic.twitter.com/GYwPWft5Hi

— Housing Development Corporation (@hdcmaldives) July 5, 2026

“Private investment should be made available to residents of Phase II using private land, whether it is for pre‑schools, clinics, shopping complexes or other businesses,” he said.

He added that enabling commercial use of land in Phase II would create businesses and jobs, stimulate economic activity, and expand essential services.

Therefore, he said, the government will work to provide opportunities for residents to use their land in a more prosperous and productive manner.