The development and operation of Maafaru Airport has been handed over to Sun Siyam Resorts, owned and operated by Government coalition partner Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) Leader Ahmed Siyam.

The agreement between the Government and Sun Siyam Resorts was signed on Wednesday. Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer signed the agreement on behalf of the Government, while company director and Kendhikulhudhoo Constituency MP Ali Mauroof signed on behalf of Sun Siyam Resorts.

In addition to Sun Siyam Resorts, Turkey’s Borossa Insta Tourism submitted bids for the project.

Maafaru Airport project was put back on bid, after nullifying the existing agreement with Millennium Capital Holdings. The company was owned by Hamid Ismail, a relative of former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb. He is currently in jail, in connection to the explosion aboard the Presidential speedboat.

President Yameen, on February 8, 2016 said that with Hamid under arrest, it was not feasible to expect that the airport could be developed according to schedule. He made the statement in the port opening ceremony held in Kudafari Island of Noonu Atoll.

Siyam, in the same ceremony, had stated that if given the project, his company will begin operations within two years.

The two companies who contested for the bids submitted them in March 2016; the Government had not revealed why the bidding process had extended over a year’s duration.

Previous estimates put the project at US$ 17 million (MVR 262 million).