Foreign nationals who purchase property and settle in Rasmale under the government’s partnership with UAE-based Eagle Hills will be eligible for a special visa that requires periodic renewal, Attorney General Ahmed Usham has said.
Speaking during a meeting with religious scholars, Usham explained that the arrangement would follow the model of Malaysia’s My Second Home (MM2H) programme. Under that scheme, investors who meet financial criteria receive a multi-year visa that must be renewed if conditions continue to be satisfied.
Usham noted that Eagle Hills has declined to participate in the separate Pearl Residency programme being developed with Henley & Partners. As a result, the government is considering a distinct visa category for Rasmale residents.
He confirmed that work is under way to amend the Maldives Immigration Act to introduce a Corporate Residence Visa for those settling in the development. The remarks come amid ongoing debate over the large-scale reclamation and real-estate project.
Previous government statements have emphasised that property purchases will not automatically grant residency or citizenship, and that visa decisions remain under the control of Maldives Immigration.
The Rasmale project, involving significant land reclamation and planned sales of properties to foreign buyers, has drawn scrutiny from opposition parties over transparency and potential implications for residency rules.
