Providing affordable housing for citizens has been the highest priority of the current administration. Over 100,000 housing units are planned to be developed in Male' and other areas to realise the objective.
Moreover, the government believes that the mega project "Hiya" initiated by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom will bring a permanent solution for the housing crisis in the greater Male' region. Access to affordable housing has been a huge problem throughout the country, seen mostly in the greater Male' region, which houses one third of the country's population.
Capital Malé City is labelled as a concrete jungle with tall buildings, small houses, narrow roads and polluted atmosphere. With previous administrations paying little to no attention to the issue, the housing issue exploded into unfathomable proportions. Former administrations initiated housing schemes, however not many were successful.
However, under the leadership of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Maldivians saw several efforts to solve the issue. The most difficult situation the current administration faced on assuming office was to restart the project from scratch and gain the confidence of Maldivian citizens.
Thousands of flats and row houses were developed and provided to citizens within a short span of time. Reclamation of land in 14 islands have been completed and almost 600 housing units are being developed in those sites, within 4 years. To ease any difficulty to purchase the housing units, the government has also issued USD 3 million as housing loans.
Furthermore, the government has provided housing for families that were displaced in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.
The government has also announced a mega housing project in Hulhumale' to address the congestion issue in capital Malé. The development of 7,000 housing units is in progress, as part of phase two of the Hulhumale' development project.
The development of 16 housing towers has been contracted to China State Construction Engineering Co-operation, with the foundation and pile work now complete.
Applications for the 7,000 housing units were been opened on May 6.