Hulhumalé

Hulhumalé, a reclaimed island in the Maldives, is a planned city developed to address overcrowding in Malé and support economic diversification. Launched in 1997 by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), it spans over 4 square kilometers and is designed to house 240,000 residents. The city integrates modern housing, commercial hubs, and sustainable infrastructure, with a focus on climate resilience, including elevated land levels to counter rising sea levels. Hulhumalé is also a key part of the Greater Malé Urban Region, supporting tourism, technology, and business. While progress has been steady, challenges include affordability and transport connectivity. If fully realized, Hulhumalé could become a regional model for climate-adaptive urban development in island nations.

Hulhumalé is a new city, though it is part of the larger Malé metropolitan area in the Maldives. Originally created in 2004 to address the overpopulation and overcrowding of Malé, Hulhumalé is being developed as a modern, self-sustaining urban center. Built on reclaimed land, it features residential, commercial, and recreational areas, and is designed with a focus on sustainability, green spaces, and smart infrastructure.

Unlike a district, which would be an extension of an existing city, Hulhumalé is a standalone urban area with its own governance and infrastructure, separate from Malé. It is considered a new city as it is being built from scratch, with plans to accommodate hundreds of thousands of residents in the future.

Hulhumalé is a success story in planned urban development, offering much-needed housing, commerce, and resilience for the Maldives. While it has not yet achieved full economic diversity and faces climate-related uncertainties, it remains a model for sustainable island urbanization.

Strengths:

• Purpose-Built for Expansion and Resilience: Hulhumalé was created as a planned urban expansion to ease overcrowding in Malé, the capital, and to offer higher ground for better protection against rising sea levels.
• Population Growth & Residential Demand: Since the first residents moved in during 2004, Hulhumalé has seen a steady increase in population, reaching over 60,000 people, with more residential projects underway.
• Focus on Sustainability & Livability: Incorporates green urban planning principles, public parks, renewable energy initiatives, and infrastructure that supports a more modern, urban lifestyle.
• Commercial & Tourism Development: The city includes hotels, restaurants, and retail centers, along with plans for a technology park and commercial hubs, making it an economic driver.
• Proximity to Malé and the International Airport: Well-connected to Velana International Airport and the capital city, it serves as a key transit and business hub for the Maldives.

Challenges:

• Overreliance on Government-Led Development: Much of Hulhumalé’s progress depends on state-run or state-backed projects, and the private sector’s full involvement is still developing.
• Limited Economic Diversification: While tourism and real estate are booming, the city needs a broader economic base to become more self-sufficient.
• Rising Cost of Living: Hulhumalé’s housing and living costs are higher than those in other islands, creating some affordability challenges for middle- and lower-income residents.
• Environmental Challenges Remain: Despite its higher elevation compared to Malé, Hulhumalé is still vulnerable to climate change impacts in the long term.