Tuesday Aug 25, 2026
Tuesday Aug 25, 2026
Tuesday, 25 August 2026 07:58 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Panel 1: Emerging Asia and international investment
The RIUNIT Investor Forum: Maldives 2026, held on 11 August at Hotel Jen, Malé, brought together diplomats, investors, financiers, developers and business leaders under the theme “Investment and Growth Opportunities in Emerging Asia Amidst an Ever-Evolving Environment.” The forum examined whether emerging Asia is becoming a preferred destination for international capital and how financing, infrastructure and investor behaviour are reshaping the Maldives’ real estate market.
Regional resilience and the investment outlook
Opening remarks by High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Maldives Mohamed Rizvi Hassen focused on the growing importance of resilience, stability and regional cooperation amid geopolitical uncertainty. Highlighting opportunities in investment, tourism, maritime connectivity, digital commerce, food and energy security and real estate, he stressed that “the future lies not in competition between us but in collaboration.” Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker Colonel (Rtd.) Mohamed Nazim highlighted the Maldives’ potential beyond tourism, including sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, financial and digital services, healthcare, education, logistics and the blue economy, while calling for long-term, innovation-led investment.
Moderated by RIUNIT Founder and CEO Roshan Madawela, the first panel featured High Commissioner of India to the Maldives G. Balasubramaniam, High Commissioner of Pakistan to the Maldives Vice Admiral (R) Faisal Rasul Lodhi, and Home Lands Group Executive Directress Amaya Herath. The discussion covered FDI trends, policy stability, infrastructure, technology, connectivity and the growing capacity of Asian companies and developers to invest regionally.
Moderated by RIUNIT Senior Consultant Dr. Anil Priyanka Baddevithana, the second panel brought together Hammaadh Rasheed of Maldives Islamic Bank, Ahmed Aslam of Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and Roshan Madawela. Discussion focused on housing demand, affordability, project and buyer finance, land availability, Islamic finance and the transformation of Hulhumalé. RIUNIT research shows Hulhumalé’s luxury and semi-luxury apartment stock rising from below 500 units in 2015 to more than 3,000 by 2023, while total apartment supply increased from 656 units in 2016 to 7,102 by 2023. Top-end transaction prices moved from about $ 135 per sq. ft. in 2016 to around $ 230 by 2024. Madawela highlighted the Sinamalé Bridge as a key example of infrastructure driving real estate value and investor confidence.
Partners and next steps
The forum was supported by Maldives Islamic Bank, Amãna Takaful, Home Lands Group, Housing Development Corporation (HDC), Maldives Capital Market Development Gateway Initiative (MCDGI), RCC Maldives and media partner NTV. The event concluded with a networking session, reinforcing RIUNIT’s wider objective of creating research-led investment dialogue across Asia. The central message was clear: markets combining resilience, connectivity, policy credibility, strong partnerships and reliable market intelligence will be best positioned to attract the next generation of investment.
Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker Colonel (Rtd.) Mohamed Nazim
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Maldives Mohamed Rizvi Hassen
Panel 2: Maldives real estate demand dynamics
