A day after president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom revealed that United Arab Emirates (UAE) was interested in undertaking several projects in Noonu Atoll, the government signed an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) to develop an international airport, a city hotel and a tourism zone in the Atoll.
Tourism minister Moosa Zameer who is currently on a visit to UAE signed the agreement on behalf of the Maldives government which would see the ADFD fund a digital school program in the Atoll.
Zameer told Avas that the contractor -- Singapore's Tuff Offshore Engineering had been awarded the project to develop the airport and city hotel.
The project cost is estimated to be around USD60 million and the contractor would complete and handover the city hotel next July, he explained.
According to Zameer, ADFD would invite interested investors to visit the Maldives to assess the opportunities which would open Noonu Atoll to be developed as an ultra luxury tourism zone.
The potential investors are expected to visit the Atoll next month and decide on their respective areas of investment, he added.
Speaking to residents of Henbadhoo island president Yameen said Maldives now enjoys enhanced relations with UAE similar to Saudi Arabia.
For the first time, president Yameen admitted that the international airport being developed in Maafaru island was a "gift" to the Maldives from the UAE government.
Without detailing the nature of the projects, president Yameen hinted that the UAE government remained interested in implementing "several other projects in Noonu Atoll."
Noonu atoll Maafaru is currently witnessing the development of an international airport which is believed to increase international and domestic flights to the region, is expected to open on July 26, 2018 - coinciding the same day Maldives commemorates its Independence Day.
President Abdulla Yameen stated the importance of developing an international airport in Noonu atoll, and said the atoll will receive exponential commercial growth through it. The head of the state confirmed the airport will be completed within the next six months - referring its opening on July 2018.
"... the atoll is already enjoying the growth in tourism industry but an international airport in Noonu means it will become a prime hub for the region and help in the inception of guesthouses and other tourist depots. The first international airport in this region will be opened in Maafaru," president Yameen said, adding that the dream will come true sooner than expected.
The head of state also assured a city hotel will be constructed at Maafaru airport which will be developed by a UAE firm. President Yameen had furthermore stated that UAE originating corporations are seeking lucrative investment opportunities in Noonu atoll.
Maafaru airport which was earlier stalled for a significant duration was re-assigned to Sun Siyam Resorts owned by parliamentarian and MDA leader Ahmed Siyam. The company took over the development of the airport in April 2017, under a public-private partnership.
The airport will include a transit hotel as well as resort developed at land reclaimed from the lagoon of the island - marking the inception of the first multi-faceted airport in Maldives.
Maafaru airport will house a 1,800 meter runway with tarmac capacity to house six jet planes simultaneously. Sun Siyam Resorts is expected to complete the airport development project fully within two years.
The project was initially assigned to Millennium Capital owned by the Hamid Ismail, uncle of now incarcerated former vice president Ahmed Adeeb.
