Subscription Form

MDP MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem

Male’: Opposition MDP MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem has submitted a resolution to Parliament calling for the government to disclose all details of its agreement with UAE-based Eagle Hills over the Rasmale’ water front project.

The resolution seeks the release of the agreement’s full commercial terms and calls on Parliament to decide its position on the deal.

Meekail said the agreement, signed on September 21, has not been made public. He also pointed to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s earlier statement that no part of Rasmale’ would be given to a foreign party, either for rent or free of charge.

Questions over land and costs

The resolution raises concerns about the use of public funds to reclaim land for the project, claiming the agreement does not provide for the state to recover those expenses.

It states that more than 500 hectares of reclaimed land has been allocated to Eagle Hills for 99 years without an acquisition cost or rent. It also raises concerns over provisions that allow the company to rent out developments on the land to third parties under rolling lease arrangements.

Meekail warned that keeping the terms of such a major project secret could cause financial losses to the state and increase the risk of corruption.

MP cites public’s right to information

The resolution refers to Article 250 of the Constitution, which requires state property to be disposed of or leased in accordance with the law. It also cites Article 29, which guarantees the public’s right to access information.

The MDP parliamentary group has previously raised concerns about the agreement. On October 5, Meekail also submitted an emergency motion calling for the deal’s details to be made public.

Meekail said Rasmale’ is an important national asset tied to the country’s future development and stressed the need for transparency over how the project is being carried out.