Nasheed, Yameen back Kaadedhdhoo airport development over new Thinadhoo airport

Former Presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Abdulla Yameen have called for the development of Kaadedhdhoo Airport instead of prioritising plans to build a new airport through reclamation of the lagoon in GDh. Thinadhoo.

The two former presidents addressed the airport proposal on Saturday night during a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of Thinadhoo’s resettlement.

An agreement to develop an airport in Thinadhoo was signed in February 2024. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced in May 2025 that the project had been cancelled and that the government would instead develop Kaadedhdhoo Airport.

However, speaking on an official President’s Office podcast on 14 August, Muizzu said the government would proceed with the development of an airport in Thinadhoo.

Yameen told Saturday’s gathering that the Thinadhoo City Council’s development plans include reclaiming part of the island’s lagoon for an airport with a runway capable of accommodating international flights.

He said such a project should only proceed after determining whether the airport could sustain operations over the long term.

Yameen said developing Kaadedhdhoo Airport would be a more practical option because the existing airport is about seven minutes from Thinadhoo by speedboat.

“Looking at Kaadedhdhoo, the runway can be extended by roughly 600 metres. It is a location where international flights can land directly. That way, the destination becomes Thinadhoo, not Malé,” Yameen said.

He said Huvadhu Atoll has several islands that could be developed as resorts and argued that expanding tourism alongside the airport could generate economic activity for Thinadhoo.

Yameen did not rule out an airport in Thinadhoo, saying the proposal could be considered if its long-term viability was established.

Nasheed, however, opposed reclaiming Thinadhoo’s lagoon to construct an airport.

“President Yameen said building an airport in Thinadhoo is okay. To me, it is not okay,” Nasheed said.

He referred to discussions during former President Ibrahim Nasir’s administration over where the airport serving Malé should be built, noting that Hulhulé was selected instead of Malé.

“Building an airport in Thinadhoo will only act as an obstacle to Thinadhoo’s development. An airport already exists seven minutes away. Make a decision to develop that site quickly,” Nasheed said.

Nasheed also called for development plans to protect Thinadhoo’s reefs, lagoon, beaches and vegetation.

He said development should not be based on replicating the urban model of Malé, where population density and construction have changed much of the island’s environment.

“We have been conditioned to believe that ‘development’ means becoming like Malé. No — by no means should you turn Thinadhoo into a second Malé. Preserve your trees and beaches. Do not destroy your coral reefs,” Nasheed said.