Maldives Rolls Out Flagship ‘Housing for All’ Scheme

In a move to deliver on a key presidential campaign pledge, the administration of President Mohamed Muizzu has opened applications for its flagship housing programme, aimed at addressing the country’s long-standing housing shortage.

The initiative, one of the largest housing schemes announced to date, offers a total of 7,900 flats and 15,000 plots of land to eligible Maldivian citizens.

Applications for flats must be submitted through the government’s Housing Portal by 11:59 p.m. on April 17, while applications for land have an earlier deadline of March 4.

Under the scheme, all Maldivian citizens aged 18 and above are eligible to apply. A significant portion of the allocation targets housing demand in the congested capital. Of the total flats, 4,000 have been reserved for residents of Malé, while a further 1,500 are allocated to residents of other islands currently living in the capital. The remaining 2,400 flats are designated for special categories, including employees of state institutions such as the police, military, and corrections services, as well as single parents, fishermen, tourism workers, youths, and taxi drivers.

The programme also includes the allocation of 15,000 plots of land, each measuring 1,250 square feet. Of these, 10,000 plots are reserved for Malé residents. Allocation will be determined through a points-based system that considers factors such as length of continuous residence, income level, number of children, and existing property ownership.

A key revision to the policy concerns the definition of “continuous residence.” Applicants originating from other islands may now qualify if they can demonstrate 15 years of residence in Malé. Periods spent away for employment, education, or medical treatment will be considered, provided the applicant’s family continued to reside in the Greater Malé area.

Several changes were also introduced following public feedback gathered during neighbourhood meetings held by President Muizzu. These include reducing the minimum residency requirement for Malé applicants from five years to one year, and revising spousal eligibility rules so that applicants are not disqualified if their spouse owns property on another island.

In addition, individuals who previously received one-bedroom flats under earlier government housing schemes may now apply for a three-bedroom flat, on the condition that they vacate their existing government-provided accommodation.

The Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure will evaluate all applications using a detailed points-based assessment. Officials have stressed that applicants who were included in gazetted eligibility lists under the previous administration must submit fresh applications for the new scheme.

The housing programme is the first major initiative of its kind launched by President Muizzu’s administration, targeting one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges facing the country.