President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has officially announced the development of Hankede in Addu City as a new tourism destination, a decision expected to boost growth opportunities in the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. The announcement was formalised on 1 October 2025 through Presidential Decree 25/2025, which repealed the earlier designation of Hankede as a tourism real estate development project zone. That status had originally been granted to the Maldives Fund Management Corporation under Presidential Decree 8/2021, issued on 2 December 2021.
With this new directive, responsibility for Hankede’s development has now been placed under the Ministry of Tourism and Environment. This shift aims to expedite the area’s transformation into a dedicated tourism hub, ensuring the project progresses under a ministry with direct oversight and industry expertise. By placing Hankede in the Ministry’s portfolio, the government intends to streamline development efforts, accelerate investment opportunities, and align the project with the national strategy to diversify tourism offerings across the country.
President Dr. Muizzu highlighted that the southern region, and Addu in particular, holds immense potential for large-scale tourism ventures that will complement the Maldives’ world-renowned hospitality industry. By strengthening Addu’s role in tourism, the government envisions not only attracting a greater number of international visitors to the region but also positioning Addu as a vital contributor to the diversification of the tourism economy.
This decision also reflects a broader commitment by the administration to promote balanced development across the Maldives. While the central atolls currently dominate the tourism landscape, Addu’s unique geographical position, rich cultural heritage, and natural environment make it well-placed to host a tourism venture of this scale. The government’s emphasis on Addu underscores its vision to create opportunities in the south that generate employment, support local businesses, and draw attention to a region of the Maldives that is ripe for international discovery.
The move is part of a larger plan to accelerate tourism-related projects nationwide, particularly in the southern atolls, where development has historically been slower compared to the central region. Establishing Hankede as a new tourism destination represents a strategic step towards unlocking the economic potential of the south, while enhancing the Maldives’ appeal as a diverse travel destination with attractions spread across its archipelago.
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