The Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC) has officially commenced the handover of 4,000 social housing units developed under the ‘Gedhoruveriyaa’ social housing scheme, marking another step toward addressing the nation’s housing shortage.
The first recipient was presented with the keys to her new home in a ceremony held on Sunday, signaling the rapid mobilisation of the handover phase.
The inaugural presentation took place at the ‘Amaan Udhares’ project site, a development comprising 16 towers. FDC Managing Director Hamdhan Shakeel handed over the keys to the first unit, located in the 14th tower, confirming that the apartments are fully completed and ready for occupancy, featuring full connectivity to water, sewerage, and electricity services.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hamdhaan assured prospective tenants that the handover process would be conducted efficiently, aiming to match the speedy pace at which agreements have been signed.
"Today we started handing over the keys to the tenants of FDC’s 4,000 housing units. The first tower has now officially started, and we will continue the handover swiftly," he said.
The first official unit recipient, Yumna Zakariyya, shared her emotional relief, describing the day as a dream realised after years of persistent effort to secure permanent housing for her family.
As a mother of four, with three minors, Yumna had applied for numerous social housing schemes over the years.
"Alhamdhulillah, I am very happy. I have been trying to get a house for a long time. Today I can't even tell you how happy I am," she said, reflecting on the arduous journey to secure a home.
To date, over 3,000 applicants have finalised their flat agreements. FDC has confirmed that deposit payments are now open for these individuals, though no specific deadline has been set. The deposit required is just under USD 1,000 for two-bedroom units and around USD 1,600 for three-bedroom units.
The government has announced a significant subsidy for those who pay their rent consistently. Under the concessional rates, the monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment will be subsidised down to USD 454 while three-bedroom apartments will be USD 584 per month, providing substantial financial relief to the new homeowners.
During the ceremony, the official handbook detailing precautions and regulations for the residents of the new units was also launched.
Housing Minister Refutes Tampering with Flat Recipient List
In a related development, Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, Dr Abdulla Muththalib, has vehemently denied rumors that the government intends to sell a portion of the 4,000 housing units.
In a recent statement aimed at addressing widespread public speculation, Minister Dr Muththalib confirmed that the final list of recipients for the 4,000 flats remains consistent with the list announced by the previous administration.
He emphasised that the government is adhering strictly to the announced list and will only remove individuals confirmed to be ineligible following exhaustive reviews.
“This government will also act in accordance with the announcement made with the list,” he stressed in a message shared on social media.
“No person has been added to the list contrary to the gazetted announcement, and no one will have the opportunity to add new people.”
The status of the 4,000 units has been shrouded in controversy. The provisional list of flat recipients, published by the former government on 15 November 2023, faced immediate backlash, leading the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to order a suspension of proceedings due to numerous complaints. The ACC had initially raised concerns that roughly 70 percent of the individuals on the list did not meet the required eligibility criteria.
Following the ACC’s advice, the incumbent administration formed a special committee to conduct a thorough review. The committee examined 4,939 submitted forms and subsequently ruled that 2,180 applicants were indeed ineligible for the flats.
Despite the necessary clean-up of the list, the process of finalising allocations is now progressing swiftly.