Male' City Council visits HDC over stalled municipal services, says HDC refused meeting

Male' City Council says the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has not allowed an opportunity to discuss concerns over delayed municipal services for residents of Hulhumale'.

The council said HDC is neglecting to provide essential residential and municipal services to Hulhumale' residents. As a result, Mayor Adam Azim and councillors requested a meeting with HDC Managing Director Ali Zuhair, but the corporation did not grant the opportunity, the council said.

Azim and councillors visited HDC on Wednesday after receiving complaints that residents of the Vinares, FDC and Hiyaa flats were not receiving the municipal services they are entitled to.

Azim said the council will continue approaching HDC until the matter is resolved.  

“We went to meet the HDC MD to discuss the issue of lack of municipal services for the people living in the flats. However, we did not get the opportunity,” he said.

ހުޅުމާލޭގައި ދިރިއުޅޭ ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ފޯރުކޮށްދޭންޖެހޭ މުނިސިޕަލް ޚިދުމަތްތައް ދިނުމުގައި ހައުސިންގ ޑިވެލޮޕްމަންޓް ކޯޕަރޭޝަން (އެޗްޑީސީ) އިން އިހުމާލުވަމުންދާތީ، އެކަމާ މަޝްވަރާކުރުމަށް މާލެ ސިޓީ ކައުންސިލުން އެދުނު ފުރުޞަތު އެޗްޑީސީން ނުދިނުމުގެ ސަބަބުން މި މައްސަލަ… pic.twitter.com/96EVmz9NGf

— Malé City Council (@MaleCitymv) July 15, 2026

The transfer of municipal services from HDC to Male' City Council has been delayed for more than two years. Discussions on transferring all municipal services began in early 2022, when the current president, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, was serving as mayor.

The council had decided to submit a proposal to the President’s Office to take over municipal services in Hulhumale', noting that the extended artificial island is administratively a district of Male' City.

Within three days of the current government taking office, the process of transferring municipal services in both Male' and Hulhumale' began, and the relevant MOU was signed on January 4 last year.

The Finance Ministry later announced that HDC would cease providing rural services within one month of the MOU’s signing. However, work has halted now and Hulhumale's municipal services have not yet been transferred to the council.