Housing for All: 15,000 Plots and 7,900 Flats Open for Application in Greater Malé

The government launched the application portal for President Muizzu's flagship Housing for All programme on March 19, 2026, opening registrations for 15,000 land plots and 7,900 apartment units across the Greater Malé region and the newly reclaimed Rasmalé development. Each plot measures 1,250 square feet across 1,250 acres of land designated for residential development, with pricing set at MVR 1,700 per square foot — roughly 40% below current market rates in Hulhumalé.

The response was immediate and overwhelming. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development reported that 510 applications were submitted within the first 24 hours, with the online portal experiencing intermittent outages due to traffic volume. By the end of the first week, over 3,200 applications had been received, with the majority coming from Malé residents aged 25 to 40 who currently rent or share accommodation.

The programme addresses what housing experts describe as the most acute urban density crisis in South Asia. Malé's population of approximately 250,000 people is packed into just 6 square kilometres, producing a population density exceeding 41,000 people per square kilometre — more than twice that of Manhattan. Applicants must demonstrate Maldivian citizenship, lack ownership of residential property in the Greater Malé area, and meet minimum residency requirements.

Critics have raised concerns about the financial viability of the programme, noting that the subsidised pricing requires significant government expenditure at a time of fiscal constraint. Opposition MPs have also questioned the timeline, pointing out that land reclamation for several of the designated areas has not yet been completed. The Ministry has committed to a phased delivery schedule, with the first 2,000 plots to be handed over by mid-2027.