Maldives Plans $8.8B Blockchain Hub With Gulf Investment

• The Maldives will receive an $8.8B investment to build a blockchain hub and financial center.
• MBS Global has committed over $5B to launch the project, aiming to create 16,000 new jobs.
• The initiative seeks to ease national debt and diversify beyond tourism with blockchain.

The Maldives is preparing for a massive economic shift by securing an $8.8 billion investment to build a blockchain hub. The funding comes from MBS Global Investments, a Dubai-based family office managing assets for Qatari royal Sheikh Nayef bin Eid Al Thani.

The deal signed on Sunday aims to help the Maldives diversify its economy beyond tourism and fishing. The government hopes the project will ease rising debt burdens. According to the World Bank Group data, the country had a GDP of about $7 billion in 2023. However, it faces over $1.6 billion in debt payments through 2026.

The proposed investment surpasses the national annual Gross Domestic Product while transforming the economy. Notably, MBS Global has obtained between $4 billion to $5 billion for its first developmental stages, secured through equity and debt commitments from a consortium of family offices and wealthy investors.

The core of the project is a new International Financial Centre that would be built on a 205-acre site. The location of the centre would be Malé, the capital city of the Maldives. Further, the facility is expected to house 6,500 people and create 16,000 jobs, indicating that around 3% of the entire national population would be employed.

Officials say the project will triple the Maldives’ GDP within four years. It is expected to generate over $1 billion in annual revenue by the fifth year of operations. The site will serve as a global financial free zone for blockchain and digital assets.

Related: Dubai Unveils 17-Story Crypto Tower for Web3 Innovation Hub

The Maldives Finance Minister, Moosa Zameer, called the deal a break from traditional borrowing models and emphasized that the country must “take the leap” to adopt new economic pathways. He also noted that India and China remain key development partners.

MBS Global is not new to the blockchain space. Last year, it invested in Varys Capital, a firm focused on early-stage crypto projects. It also manages a special economic zone near Malaysian Borneo. Last month, the firm met with Brunei’s finance ministry to explore cooperation.

The Maldives has had limited exposure to crypto until now. The deal marks its most ambitious move into digital finance, and the country hopes the hub will attract global players in fintech, blockchain, and asset management. If successful, the project could transform the Maldives into a leading destination for blockchain innovation and offer a financial lifeline amid its mounting debt and economic uncertainty.

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