Land Use

The master plan accommodates for a wide range of land uses in Hulhumalé. From commercial and residential to industrial and institutional uses and so on, land on Hulhumalé is being used for - and is planned to be further used in the future for a diverse set of activities.

Hotels

In Hulhumalé opportunities are available for potential hotel developers to provide their business at a level that has not yet been available in the Maldives.

The Waterfront Hotel has the advantages of being located at the northern edge of the bay front district with its beautiful views of the Marina on the northwest and eastern waterway as well as being located within easy walking distance to the waterfront promenade with its cafes, retail shops and open spaces which would make it a distinctive and commercially profitable.

There are also opportunities for the development of two hotels within the downtown commercial zone of varying plot sizes and easy access to air and sea transportation and civic centre facilities – a suitable location for business travelers and culture seekers looking for something a bit different to the conventional sun, sea and sand experience the Maldives is more typically renowned for.

Pure commercial

The majority of the space allocated for pure commercial use is situated in the Waterfront district at the waterfront promenade. Located at walking distance from most residential apartments, hotels and offices, the area is not only pedestrian friendly but also has the potential to support diverse commercial utilization, such as retail, recreation and entertainment facilities.

A large plot of land at the periphery of the Downtown Commercial district has been allocated to the development of a large shopping complex which would be the first of its kind in the Maldives.

Institutional

Space from the island is also dedicated for the development of much needed educational and training and social institutes such as hospitals and schools which the community can access easily.

The Academic district is located centrally east of the major civic centre between the eastern residential neighborhoods and the western mixed residential and commercial area and houses a junior, primary, secondary and one vocational training school.

Residential

Much needed pure residential are located in the northern and western foreshore which allows for clear views of the ocean from both sides. The majority of the high rise residential apartments and condominiums will be located at the Strait district which faces the northern foreshore. Mid-rise residential apartments will be located at the Waterfront district with views towards the Marina and access to the waterfront commercial district. Certain mid-rise apartments will also feature at the area facing the civic centre from the eastern side residential neighborhood districts.

In addition to these mid-rise and high rise condominiums, areas in the eastern side Residential Neighborhood districts are also planned for pure residential developments. These developments consist of low rise apartment buildings located inland and individual property developments at the beach side and beach front.

Mix Residential

A large proportion of the land area is dedicated to mixed residential development, where various commercial enterprises will co-exist with residential developments in the same building. This would allow more economic benefit to investors as well as augment services provided to residents within their apartment blocks.

The majority of the high rises are located in the Bay View Condominium district, the medium level residencies at the western foreshore of the Downtown Commercial district and the low levels at the north west of the Waterfront.

Industrial

The Industrial zone at the southern outskirts of the city is the largest tract of land within Hulhumalé and is designed to allow diverse industries to share infrastructure and utilities and create a suitable environment for collaboration, strategic alliances and partnerships.

The zone is divided into four main sub zones. Zone one specializes in food processing; zone two in warehousing and light industrial activity; zone three in carpentry and similar activities and zone four in nuisance activities that do not fit in to the rest of the zones.

Office

The space designated purely for office use is situated in the centrally located southern Downtown Commercial district which allows effective access to all areas including residential, commercial and industrial districts.

Major inter-island passenger and cargo transportation, commercial activities and government civic service providers and offices are also located at the western foreshore.

Mixed Offices

Mixed offices – offices with other commercial orientated activities – are dispersed widely in the downtown commercial area, close to the residential neighborhoods and the Civic Center. Various configurations of office space and commercial activities are developed in these areas within set guidelines.

Sport and Recreational

There are two allocated sports and recreation zones. The larger, audience oriented space is located at the south eastern foreclosure and acts as a buffer between the residential neighborhoods and the municipal services area, blocking the noise, smell and views of municipal activity from the residencies.

The smaller scale sports field and sports complex are situated within the Academic district at the northern end of Hulhumalé. The area is designed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as providing sports facilities to schools and residencies.

Municipal Services

The south east corner of the island is demarcated as the municipal services area. Acting as a barrier between the disturbances from the international airport and the rest of the land uses catered for in the island, the municipal services area accommodates the majority of the infrastructure establishments of the basic service providers in the island.

Government and Civic

The circular arterial in Hulhumalé accommodates the majority of civic activities such as mosques, an arts and culture center and main government offices including municipal offices.

All embassies are allocated to one neighborhood within the residential area in the bay view condominium zone. They are positioned between the condominium district and the civic district so that they can effectively coordinate with government bodies while taking advantage of the aesthetic and functionality of the residential area at the same time.