Minister Muththalib Defends Rasmale’ Development, Rejects Claims of “Zionist Settlement" as Unfounded Fearmongering

In a strongly worded public statement shared on professional networking platform LinkedIn, Infrastructure Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib has directly addressed mounting public anxiety over the proposed Rasmalé development, forcefully dismissing claims that the project could serve as a foothold for foreign displacement or Zionist settlement.

Acknowledging the deep-seated solidarity Maldivians hold for the Palestinian people—particularly in light of the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza—Minister Muththalib stressed that public concerns "deserve a straight answer, not a dismissal." However, he sharply criticised political actors for weaponising legitimate grief over the Palestinian struggle for domestic political gain.

"There is no precedent for this fear," Minister Muththalib wrote, noting that Zionism is a specific political project aimed at Jewish statehood within historic Palestine, driven by immigration policies like Israel’s Law of Return. Historically, Israeli settlements have only expanded into territories seized by military force, such as the occupied Palestinian territories and the Golan Heights.

"There is no reported case anywhere of such a takeover happening through foreigners buying holiday homes or leasehold property in a sovereign country that controls its own borders, visas, and land,” he explained.

Addressing skeptics who question the government's commitment to Palestine, the Housing Minister pointed to the administration's decisive actions. In April 2025, the Maldivian government made history by implementing a strict ban on entry for holders of Israeli passports, defying considerable international and domestic pressure.

"To suggest that the same government would now quietly compromise on that principle through a property deal is simply not credible," he said.

To eliminate any ambiguity, Minister Muththalib outlined a robust framework of strict new protections designed to regulate the Rasmale’ project.

Strict Nationality Exclusions: A total ban on Israeli nationals or Israeli-controlled entities across the entire ownership chain, including buyers, beneficial owners, shareholders, financiers, and sales agents.

Mandatory Declarations and Forfeiture: Every buyer must declare all current and former nationalities. False declarations will result in immediate lease cancellation, reversion of the property to the state, and forfeiture of the purchase price—with checks repeated at every transfer.

Controlled Residency: While investors may apply for corporate residence visas (originally introduced in 2015), applications will be subjected to rigorous nationality screening, and property ownership will never confer permanent residency or citizenship.

Ownership Caps: Strict limits will be enforced on the concentration of units held by any single nationality or individual.

No Freehold: All land remains under state ownership. Leases are strictly non-perpetual, and only approved, paying buyers may hold them.

Maldivian Priority: Maldivians will retain the first right to purchase shares of units in every phase, payable in Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), free from foreign ownership caps.

Minister Muththalib concluded by framing the Rasmale’ development as a crucial step toward national self-reliance. By building a robust domestic economy, the Maldives can fund its own future without relying on conditional foreign aid, thereby safeguarding its sovereign foreign policy and unwavering support for Palestine.

"A Maldives that can pay its own way," the Minister emphasised, "does not have to choose between providing for its people and standing by its principles."

Over the project’s estimated 10-year development period, the state is projected to secure a direct 10 percent share of the revenue from the sale of over 8,800 properties. Total land value revenue for the state is projected to reach USD 3 billion (MVR 47 billion), marking a transformative economic milestone for the Maldives.