President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the Male’ Commercial Port is scheduled to be fully relocated to Thilafushi by November 2027. The President noted that the relocation is a large-scale project being executed in multiple phases.
Delivering the Presidential Address, President Dr. Muizzu stated that the first phase of the relocation project is progressing at a rapid pace. He highlighted that Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) is set to award the contract today for the construction of a 125-meter international quay wall, which is a key component of the initial phase.
The President further detailed that contracts for the development of a 2-kilometer quay wall required for the domestic port, along with paving, building construction, and the procurement of necessary equipment, will be awarded by mid-this year. He affirmed that upon completion of these works, the commercial port operations in Male’ will be entirely shifted to Thilafushi by November 11, 2027.
“With this transition and the commencement of services at the new port, the unloading time for vessels—which currently takes about seven days—will be reduced to 48 hours. This will increase storage duration at the port and lower the overall costs associated with importing goods to the Maldives. These improvements will ultimately lead to a reduction in the price of goods, benefiting the general public. Furthermore, the relocation will facilitate the warehousing of goods in Thilafushi instead of Male’, effectively shifting the wholesale trade currently concentrated in the Male’ market area to Thilafushi,” the President stated.
The President also emphasized that the relocation would streamline docking and cargo handling for vessels, significantly reducing turnaround times and speeding up the distribution of goods to the islands. Additionally, he noted that this move would resolve the challenges faced by residents due to widespread warehousing in Male’. It is expected to alleviate traffic congestion in the busy market and MPL areas, transforming them into more accessible and pedestrian-friendly spaces.
