President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the complete relocation of the main commercial harbor from Malé to Thilafushi will deliver a permanent solution to the severe urban congestion gripping the capital while sparking a revolutionary transformation across the Maldivian economy.
The President made these remarks while speaking to reporters following an official inspection visit to the ongoing construction site of the new commercial port in Thilafushi. During the tour, President Muizzu was briefed on the latest progress across various phases of the mega-project and expressed strong satisfaction with the pace and quality of execution.
Highlighting the urgent necessity of the development, President Muizzu observed that the existing commercial port in Malé was designed four decades ago to cater to the nation's requirements at that time, leaving it woefully inadequate and critically constrained in handling contemporary trade volumes. He emphasised that as the economy continues to expand rapidly and major national infrastructure initiatives take shape, a modern, high-capacity maritime logistics hub is indispensable. The new Thilafushi facility is engineered to quadruple the nation's overall cargo and port handling capacity.
Under the government’s targeted timeline, initial port services are scheduled to transition to Thilafushi by November 11 next year. The master plan envisions full operational shift by 2027, with total project completion slated for 2028—a milestone expected to clear heavy container transport off Malé's streets and significantly ease urban gridlock.
Currently, construction is focused on the domestic quay wall catering to inter-island vessels, which is slated for operational handover by the end of this month. Select related support functions will also be integrated into the designated industrial zone in Malé.
The President's inspection delegation included Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed, cabinet ministers, the Chief Executive Officer of Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), and senior representatives from the Chinese contracting firm undertaking the international quay wall works.