President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has firmly rejected allegations that the multibillion-dollar Rasmalé waterfront development undertaken with UAE-based Eagle Hills could facilitate Jewish settlement or the practice of non-Islamic faiths in the Maldives, characterising the claims as deliberate political fear-mongering.
Speaking during an interview on state broadcaster Public Service Media's programme The Pulse on Tuesday evening, President Muizzu addressed what he described as fabricated narratives circulating among opposition figures. He stated that critics were attempting to generate public panic by falsely suggesting that foreign investors or residents would construct non-Islamic places of worship near Malé.
“The talk of Jewish settlements being close to Maldives and the threat to Maldives is being made by a person who distorts the truth for political purposes. We will not allow foreigners to practice other religions in Rasmalé,” the President said.
He stressed that the constitutional reality of the Maldives as a 100 percent Muslim nation remains unalterable. All areas developed under the Eagle Hills partnership will operate under standard Maldivian law, with no special exemptions granted for activities contrary to Islamic principles.
Drawing a comparison with earlier land reclamation initiatives, President Muizzu noted that Hulhumalé had historically been dredged without comprehensive planning, which delayed commercial investments for years until residential populations were established. In contrast, he argued that the Rasmalé development is structured to secure immediate economic infrastructure alongside housing plots allocated to citizens.
The Maldives Waterfront and Marina Project represents an estimated USD 20 billion investment across 500 hectares of reclaimed land, forming the largest foreign development initiative in the nation’s history. Government officials reiterated that all commercial activities will adhere strictly to national sovereignty requirements and existing constitutional safeguards.
