The Maldives has opened a $585 million passenger terminal at Velana International Airport, tripling annual capacity to 7.5 million passengers. Inaugurated on July 26, 2025, the nation’s largest construction project blends modern architecture with Maldivian motifs. Funded through Gulf loans and national support, the expansion aims to remove travel bottlenecks, boost tourism revenue, and support steady economic growth, following a 9% rise in arrivals in the first half of 2025.