President Muizzu Inaugurates Muli Airport, Expanding Domestic Air Travel

Muli Airport in  Meemu Atoll has been officially inaugurated. The opening ceremony, held on May 19, 2025, was attended by President Mohamed Muizzu, alongside Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen, Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL) Managing Director Ahmed Mubeen, and other senior state officials.

The airport was commissioned under the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in 2021, as part of a nationwide initiative to establish an airport within a 30-minute distance of all residential islands.

A contract worth MVR 221 million was awarded to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) to develop the airport, including:

• Reclamation of 14 hectares of land

• Coastal protection measures covering 1,812 meters

• Construction of a 1,200-meter-long, 30-meter-wide runway

• Development of a taxiway and apron

  
  

Although the project was initially scheduled for completion within one year, budgetary constraints caused significant delays.

During his 2023 presidential campaign, President Muizzu pledged to complete the stalled project. His administration allocated an additional MVR 319 million, bringing the total project cost to MVR 540 million. MTCC successfully completed the airport, and its first test flight landed on April 25, 2025.

Muli Airport is expected to boost domestic connectivity, facilitate economic growth, and support guesthouse tourism in Meemu Atoll. With its inauguration, Muli Airport marks an another milestone in the Maldives' aviation development, reinforcing the government's commitment to expanding air accessibility and infrastructure across the country.