The government office building named after the late Umar Zahir has been officially opened. This is the first building to house government ministries outside Male'.
Late Umar Zahir, the honorary holder of the Nishan-e-Izzuddin, served in the national service for more than 50 years. He played a leading role in bringing social, national, and structural development to the Maldives. Projects such as the construction of Male' City roads, Male' shore protection and sewerage project, the development of Hulhumale', and the dredging of Thilafushi were carried out under the direct supervision of Umar Zahir. Umar Zahir held 26 positions in the government from 1953 to 2008. He passed away on December 21, 2021.
The building was officially opened today by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The ceremony was attended by Umar Zahir's family members and those who worked with him throughout his years in government service. The President unfurled the state flag at the building's opening ceremony and toured the office building.
At the ceremony, President Solih said the naming of the office building after the late Umar Zahir symbolizes the government's recognition of his national service. The President said it was fitting to name the first office building built by the government in Hulhumale' after Umar Zahir.
A video report on Umar Zahir's national services was broadcast at the ceremony.
The six-story office building in Hulhumale' was completed at a cost of MVR 185 million from the state budget. The building has an area of 25,000 square feet on each floor. The office was built by China's Hunan Engineering Company.
Floor directory of the new government office building:
Ground and first-floor - parking
2nd Floor - Ministry of Gender
3rd Floor - Ministry of Transport
Fourth Floor - US Embassy
Fifth Floor - Ministry of Higher Education
Sixth floor - meeting room, seminar room, and terrace
The decision to build a government office building in Hulhumale' came after the President decided in 2019 to find a solution to the problem of many government offices having to rent their own premises indefinitely. The government offices in Male' had to be relocated to had to private buildings after the Huravee Building, which housed many government offices, was vacated after experts advised that it was not safe for occupation.
