Yameen calls for constitutional amendment to prevent Israelis from acquiring property in Ras Malé

Former President Abdulla Yameen has called for an amendment to the Constitution to prevent Israeli nationals from acquiring property or establishing residence in Ras Malé, arguing that government assurances alone would not provide sufficient safeguards.

Speaking at a People's National Front (PNF) gathering on Thursday night, Yameen responded to statements by Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib concerning the government's agreement with UAE-based developer Eagle Hills.

The agreement involves the allocation of 500 hectares of Ras Malé, a development planned on 1,100 hectares of reclaimed land in Fushidhiggaru Falhu, for a tourism and residential project featuring waterfront developments and a marina.

Yameen has repeatedly criticised plans to offer properties within the development on 99-year leases, raising concerns about the potential involvement of Israeli nationals and alleged links between Eagle Hills and Israel.

Responding to those concerns, Muththalib had outlined measures the government intends to implement to prevent Israeli nationals from residing in the development or purchasing property there.

However, Yameen said the government could not provide an effective guarantee without incorporating the restrictions into the Constitution.

"Muththalib must assure us that no Israeli or Zionist will become a resident there. That assurance can only be provided by stating in the Constitution that Israelis cannot purchase property," Yameen said.

He called for the Constitution and relevant legislation to be amended to establish the restrictions.

Yameen argued that administrative measures would be insufficient to regulate property transactions once units were leased to private individuals for 99 years.

He said properties would effectively remain under the control of leaseholders throughout the lease period, limiting the government's ability to regulate subsequent transactions.

"It becomes private property. Who enters the property, who leaves it, who resells it, or who takes it on a time charter — these are not matters the government can regulate," he said.

Yameen reiterated his call for the Constitution to be amended to address the concerns he had raised.

The Maldives currently prohibits entry to individuals travelling on Israeli passports.

However, concerns have been raised about whether Israeli nationals holding dual citizenship or passports issued by other countries could enter the Maldives.

The issue has also featured in discussions surrounding the Eagle Hills development, particularly regarding the proposed residential component and the rights of future leaseholders.

In a post published on LinkedIn, Muththalib said the government would strengthen immigration procedures to ensure that individuals holding Israeli passports would not be permitted to enter the Maldives, even if they also possessed passports issued by other countries.

The minister's statement outlined immigration-related measures but did not specifically propose incorporating restrictions on Israeli nationals into the Constitution.

Yameen's remarks come amid continuing debate over the Eagle Hills agreement, including the proposed 99-year lease arrangements, foreign participation in the development and the legal safeguards governing property rights in Ras Malé.