If you have walked across Gulhi, you know it doesn’t take long. From the harbour to Bikini Beach is a stroll of a few minutes, and for most of its history the whole island measured roughly 400 by 225 metres.

That small scale is part of Gulhi’s charm. It has also been one of the biggest challenges for the people who live here. With a population of 976 (2022 census), more than a dozen guesthouses and every plot already taken, Gulhi simply ran out of room. Young families waited years for somewhere to build a home, and there was little space left for community facilities.

That changed in November 2025, when the Gulhi Land Reclamation and Coastal Protection Project was completed, adding 10.15 hectares of new land and roughly doubling the size of the island.

From plan to new land

• March 2023Project awarded to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).
• April 2025Reclamation work formally begins on Gulhi.
• November 2025Project completed and marked at a ceremony on the island.

The project was valued at about MVR 89.6 million. For a community the size of Gulhi, it is a once-in-a-generation change.

For a small island where every plot was taken, 10 hectares of new land is room to breathe for the next generation.

Protecting the new coastline

Creating land is only half the job. Out in the lagoon, new land has to be protected from waves, storms and erosion. Alongside the reclamation, the project included:

• Rock revetment along the new shoreline to absorb wave energy
• Geobag revetment, around 362 metres
• A groyne, around 88 metres, to help hold sand in place

What happens next

The new land is not yet built on. A land use plan is being prepared to decide how it will be used, and housing for local families has been named as a priority. How much, if any, of the land is set aside for tourism is still being discussed, and residents have been told their wishes will be taken into account.

A separate project to upgrade Gulhi harbour has also been agreed. It includes deepening the harbour and its channels, repairing existing structures and building a new concrete jetty. For visitors, that should mean smoother arrivals by speedboat and ferry.

What it means for visitors

Day to day, very little changes for guests. Bikini Beach, the I Love Gulhi swing, the souvenir market and the harbour are all exactly where they were, and Gulhi is still a small, friendly island where everything is a few minutes’ walk away.

In the longer run, the extra space gives Gulhi room to breathe: homes for families who grew up here, space for community facilities and a better harbour. A thriving community is what makes a local island worth visiting.

Sources: PlusMV, April 2025 · Raajje.mv, April 2025 · PlusMV, November 2025