President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu officially inaugurated the new terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) during a special ceremony held Friday night.

The grand event featured a spectacular drone show, fireworks, and colorful illuminations of the new terminal building.

The drone show, themed around Independence Day, captivated attendees with aerial animations, while fireworks lit up three areas of the airport and 16 locations across Malé City.

Speaking at the event, President Dr. Muizzu expressed his appreciation to everyone involved in the project’s completion.

After the inauguration, he and other dignitaries toured the state-of-the-art facility.

Originally launched a decade ago under the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen, the terminal project was initially scheduled for completion in 2027.

However, after assuming office, President Dr. Muizzu accelerated the construction timeline, enabling completion ahead of schedule.

The new terminal significantly expands VIA's capacity, now able to handle 7.5 million passengers annually.

It is equipped with modern aviation infrastructure, including aerobridges, a self-check-in system, automated baggage handling, and advanced docking guidance systems.

The USD 457 million (MVR 7 billion) project was funded by several international partners, including the Saudi Fund for Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.