Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih officially inaugurated the new government office complex in Hulhumale’, the “Umar Zahir Office Building”.
The building, named after the long-serving statesman, the late Umar Zahir, was opened on Wednesday morning, 15th February, at a special ceremony by the Maldives President. At the ceremony, President Solih noted that the Huravee Building in Male’ City was recently demolished due to old age and highlighted the dilapidated state of the adjacent Ghaazee Building.
President Solih further said that the new office complex was opened at the right time to cater to the growing need for new spaces to run government offices. He also said that it was costly to operate government offices in rented spaces in the capital and that the new building will ensure that the state’s expenditure on office rent is reduced significantly.
The decision to move specific offices to Hulhumale’ was made by President Solih in 2019. This is also the first time government offices are established outside of Male’.
China-based Hunan Construction Engineering Group developed the complex. The office complex was developed for a project cost of MVR 185 million.
The new six-storey building, which features 25,000 square feet of office space, will house three ministries. The building will house;
- Ground and First Floors: Parking
- Second Floor: Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services
- Third Floor: Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
- Fourth Floor: Embassy of the United States of America in the Maldives
- Fifth Floor: Ministry of Higher Education
- Sixth Floor: meeting rooms, seminar rooms, and a terrace
The late Umar Zahir, after whom the building is named, was a state dignitary and an honoree of the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin (ODRI). Zahir spent nearly half of his lifetime in the service of the government and nation.
He was the country’s very first Sports Minister, and is most notable for the work he did during his tenure as the Minister of Public Works. During his time at the office, he oversaw major developmental projects such as the first phase of Hulhumale’ development, building the seawall around Male’ City with Japanese aid, building harbors in Fuvahmulah and in the southern parts of Maldives.
Umar Zahir passed away on 20th December 2021, after being hospitalized for Covid-19. He was 85 years old at the time of demise.