Equator Village land not in agreement, Addu Airport says
The company claims that this particular land was not part of the original lease agreement signed between Kaimoo and the Ministry of Tourism.
A land dispute has emerged between the Addu Airport Company and the operators of Equator Village, Kaimoo Travels and Hotel Services, raising concerns over land ownership and the future of development projects in the area.
According to a statement released by the Addu Airport Company on Thursday, a portion of land currently used by Equator Village—specifically a building designated for staff accommodation—falls within the boundaries allocated for the Gan Airport development project. The company claims that this particular land was not part of the original lease agreement signed between Kaimoo and the Ministry of Tourism.
“The company is deeply concerned that land not included in the lease agreement was registered as part of Equator Village’s premises,” the statement read. “The unoccupied building and part of the building currently in use remain hard assets of the Addu Airport Company. Any handover of this land to others, without prior notification to the company, would be out of order.”
Addu Airport Company said it is now seeking legal advice on the matter and will present the issue to its board to decide whether to pursue a legal resolution through the courts.
Construction Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib recently weighed in, noting that a section of the land is required for ongoing road construction linked to the airport expansion. He also stated that despite repeated requests, Equator Village has refused to vacate the premises for over two years, causing delays in the project.
In response, Equator Village issued a statement on Wednesday highlighting the operational importance of the facilities located on the contested land. These include staff accommodations, kitchen facilities, a staff mess, resort laundry, garage, recreation areas for employees, and even a squash court for guests. The resort emphasised that these are vital for day-to-day operations and cannot be easily relocated.
Despite the tension, Addu Airport Company clarified it has not ordered the evacuation of all Equator Village facilities. Instead, the company said it had only identified specific rooms that may need to be vacated and had assured that each vacated space would be replaced by a room in a nearby area. Inspections were carried out, and the company maintains that the proposed changes would not disrupt Equator Village’s operations.
