Ukulhas

Ukulhas

Residential Island Code: AA

About Ukulhas

Ukulhas is recognized nationally for pioneering organized solid waste management, making it a model of community-led environmental governance. Spanning approximately 0.91 km², the island hosts a population of around 1,000. It was one of the first inhabited islands in the Maldives to implement household-level waste segregation, public cleaning programs, and dedicated composting and recycling systems. Fishing is the primary economic activity, especially pole-and-line tuna fishing. The settlement is laid out in a grid pattern, with wide paved roads, public green spaces, and efficient use of land. Key facilities include a school, mosque, health center, and a waste management center. Surrounding reef structures are well-developed, with coral cover supporting reef fish, baitfish, and marine invertebrates. Ukulhas’s environmental planning includes designated green zones and coastal buffer areas. Its integration of reef ecology with civic management has influenced waste and environmental policy across other islands in the atoll.

Island Information

Geographic

Area
23.75 hectares
Nearest Island
Gaagan'du (2.01 km)

Coordinates: 4.214655, 72.863734

Administrative

Island Name
Ukulhas
Island Code
AA
Atoll
North Ari Atoll
Island Type
Residential Island
Regulating Authority
Council
Primary Agency
Council

Location on Map