🇲🇻 Maldives Opens 50-Year Resort Leases to Attract Long-Term Investment

Maldives Government Unlocks Untapped Atolls for Sustainable Tourism and Foreign Participation

📍 Malé, Maldives – July 6, 2025

The Government of the Maldives has unveiled a new initiative to issue 50-year resort leases for properties in underdeveloped atolls, aiming to attract long-term tourism investment and unlock new frontiers in the country’s island economy.

This move, part of the government’s broader tourism and decentralization strategy, offers international investors extended lease terms—especially in atolls where tourism development has lagged behind. Investors will also benefit from incentives on infrastructure, sustainability benchmarks, and land use flexibility.

According to officials, the new program is designed to:

• Encourage investment in lesser-known islands

• Drive sustainable resort models

• Expand local employment and infrastructure in remote regions

With the Maldives already considered a global leader in luxury island tourism, this expansion effort is expected to attract developers from the UAE, China, Southeast Asia, and Sri Lanka, particularly those with interest in eco-luxury and long-term hospitality projects.

Tourism Minister statements indicate that foreign firms with experience in island infrastructure, environmental conservation, and marine services will receive preference during the screening process.

The introduction of 50-year lease terms—previously reserved for top-tier resort islands—signals the government’s intent to stimulate new capital flows and spread tourism impact beyond traditional hubs like Malé and Ari Atoll.

Stay tuned for more investment opportunities, policy developments, and strategic insights.

Ethera Business — Guiding Beyond Borders.