Housing Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib has denied claims by some politicians that the Eagle Hills project in Rasmale' could become a foothold for a Zionist or Jewish settlement in the Maldives, The Edition reported.
In a LinkedIn post, the minister set out proposed safeguards. Israeli nationals and Israeli-controlled entities would be barred from acting as buyers, beneficial owners, shareholders, financiers or sales agents, according to The Edition.
Buyers and beneficial owners would have to declare every nationality they hold or have held. A false declaration would void the lease, return the property to the state and could lead to forfeiture of the purchase price. The checks would be repeated at every transfer.
The proposals also include limits on the share of units any single nationality or individual can hold. Land would stay state-owned, buyers would hold leases rather than freehold titles, and property would not give permanent residency or citizenship, the minister said.
Muththalib said the April 2025 ban applies to Israeli passports, not Israeli citizens. He said around one in 10 Israelis are estimated to hold a second nationality and could enter on another passport. He said Eagle Hills has publicly committed to following the ban.
The minister said the government aims to give Maldivians first right to buy a share of units in every phase, paid in rufiyaa. These are proposals only. No law or regulation putting them in place has been passed, and the Supreme Court has not ruled on the Rasmale' deal.