Nasheed urges MDP not to oppose Eagle Hills project in Ras Malé

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has urged the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) not to oppose the government's agreement with UAE-based Eagle Hills for a USD 20 billion residential tourism investment in Ras Malé, warning that doing so could damage the party's relations with the United Arab Emirates.

Nasheed, who chairs the MDP, made the appeal in messages sent to the party's National Council WhatsApp group as members sought a meeting to establish an official position on the agreement.

The government has allocated 500 hectares of land in Ras Malé to Eagle Hills for the development, a decision that has drawn criticism over the terms of the agreement, the absence of an advance payment and alleged links between the company's chairman, Mohamed Alabbar, and Israel.

A poll was conducted in the MDP National Council's WhatsApp group to determine whether a meeting should be held to adopt a formal position opposing the project. A total of 66 members voted in favour of holding the meeting.

While the poll was under way, Nasheed sent several messages urging members not to oppose Eagle Hills or continue discussing the project beyond the position already expressed in an MDP statement.

He said he supported the Ras Malé project in principle and believed the party should limit its comments to those contained in its previous statement.

Nasheed also argued that the party should not threaten Eagle Hills chairman Mohamed Alabbar.

His remarks prompted objections from several members of the National Council, including members aligned with Nasheed and the faction associated with former MDP chairman Fayyaz Ismail.

Nasheed subsequently asked members who agreed with his position that the MDP should make no further statements on Ras Malé to indicate their support.

When no members responded in support, he sent additional messages warning that opposing Eagle Hills and investment by a UAE company would harm the MDP politically.

"I repeat, this will be very damaging to the MDP. The UAE is a country close to the MDP. Through what we are doing, we have pushed the UAE towards the PNC," Nasheed wrote in one of the messages.

The disagreement comes amid growing criticism of the government's decision to award the Ras Malé development to Eagle Hills.

The company's Maldives Waterfront and Marina project has also faced allegations from opposition figures that it could allow Israeli nationals to acquire property in the Maldives.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and Infrastructure Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib have rejected those concerns.

President Muizzu has said Israeli nationals will not be permitted to benefit from the development and that the law will prohibit them from acquiring investments or interests in the project.

Muththalib has also said Israeli citizens, Israeli-controlled companies and other entities linked to Israel will not be allowed to participate in the Ras Malé development.

According to the minister, the restrictions will cover participation as property purchasers, beneficial owners, shareholders, financiers and sales agents.

The dispute has also exposed differences within the MDP over how the party should respond to the government's agreement with Eagle Hills.

Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has previously said the MDP should not accept the Ras Malé agreement, while Nasheed earlier criticised the government's decision to award the project to Eagle Hills without a competitive bidding process.