Inhabitants of Maldives Atoll Fear a Flood of Saudi Money<br />But Mr. Ahmed and others here are bracing for a life change they fear could be catastrophic, after the Maldivian president’s announcement in January<br />that leaders of Saudi Arabia were planning a $10 billion investment in the group of islands where Mr. Ahmed lives, known as Faafu Atoll.<br />By HASSAN MOOSA and GEETA ANANDMARCH 26, 2017<br />MAGOODHOO, Maldives — As long as anyone can remember, life on the island of Magoodhoo in the Maldives has revolved around fishing in the crystal clear waters<br />that wash the coral reefs, and kicking back under palm trees on deck chairs made from coir rope.<br />Maldivian said that It would be hard beyond our imaginations.<br />More than a third of the Maldives population of nearly 350,000 is crowded onto the capital island, Malé, on just 2.2 square miles of land<br />that is a two-and-a-half-hour speedboat ride northeast of Faafu Atoll.<br />The Saudi interest in Faafu Atoll began with a 2014 visit by King Salman, then the crown prince,<br />and his son Mohammed bin Salman, now the deputy crown prince.<br />Many residents fear they may be moved to apartments the government is building on an artificial<br />island near Malé, financed in part by an $80 million loan from the Saudi Fund for Development.
