Qaumiyathu Institute to be completed in 6 months

World of Business Pvt Ltd has been awarded the contract to complete the Qaumiyathu Institute within six months.

The agreement, signed on Wednesday evening, designates World of Business Pvt Ltd, a foreign investment company in the Maldives, to develop a five-star hotel, the Manhattan Grand, which will incorporate the Qaumiyathu Institute at the former City Hotel site in Hulhumale'.

The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) awarded the work at a special ceremony. Under the terms of the agreement, HDC is set to receive USD 11 million as the hotel's value, along with an annual land rent of MVR 14.4 million.

We have signed with World of Business Pvt Ltd to develop transformative projects in the Maldives — Media Village, Qaumiyathu Institute, MNU Medical College & a 5-star Luxury Hotel, reflecting President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s key pledges.#withHDC pic.twitter.com/gy7qxul0Xe

— Housing Development Corporation (@hdcmaldives) August 20, 2025

The Manhattan Grand hotel will span three floors and a portion of an additional floor, designed to fulfill four key promises made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. These floors will house the Qaumiyathu Institute, a medical college, a media village, and a youth centre. The sections required by the state are slated for completion and handover within the next five months.

The 'Manhattan Grand' will feature 158 rooms, a banquet hall, a multipurpose hall, conference halls, and a swimming pool. Guests will also have access to four international food and beverage brands, along with gym and spa services. The overall completion and opening of the hotel are expected within the next year, as stipulated by the agreement.

Promoting nationalism is a central promise of the current government. In September 2024, the government established an office called “Dhivehi Gaumiyyathuge Isvaru,” a council intended to serve as a crucial center for reviving nationalism, and patriotic sessions have commenced in all public schools.