Rasfannu pavilion opens with Gloria Jean’s coffee shop

A pavilion built on Malé’s western artificial beach opened Monday night with an outlet of the Australian coffee shop franchise Gloria Jean’s.

First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim inaugurated the pavilion at a ceremony featuring fireworks and speeches by ministers and the head of the Malé Water and Sewerage Company.

The state-owned MWSC awarded the Rasfannu beach pavilion development to Sibco Pvt Ltd, which won the bid in August last year.

Speaking at the ceremony, Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muizz called the redeveloped western waterfront the “brainchild” of President Abdulla Yameen, whom he praised for transforming the “lifeless area” to a popular retreat in the congested capital.

He also announced revised plans to build toilets, changing rooms and baby care facilities at Rasfannu.

In his remarks, Economic Development Minister Mohamed Saeed said more international franchisees will open both at the airport and new resorts under development in the Embudu lagoon near Malé.

The pavilion unveiling comes after a Pizza Hut opened last week, which became the most high-profile fast-food chain outlet to launch in the capital to date. Long queues were seen outside when it opened doors Thursday morning.

Burger King and Coffee Club outlets operated by a subsidiary of Thailand’s Minor International also opened for business on Monday on the first floor of the Hulhumalé ferry terminal.

But the official opening is reportedly due to take place at a later date.

The Thai company opened Burger King outlets at the Velana International Airport in July 2013.

According to Gamma Island Foods, a joint venture company that operates Pizza Hut in the Maldives, the country’s first KFC outlet would also open soon at the ground floor of the Malé Square apartment complex.

Pizza Hut and KFC outlets by Italy’s HMS Host International are also to debut at the international airport.

Rasfannu Beach Pavilion is a development initiative of MWSC in collaboration with Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure. Gloria Jean’s Coffees, the franchise opened tonight will be located on the 2nd floor of the Pavilion. pic.twitter.com/0inRvEp7rW

— MWSC (@MWSC_Official) April 2, 2018

Highlights from tonight’s Gloria Jean’s Coffees franchise opening event pic.twitter.com/uFd6R7T2EQ

— MWSC (@MWSC_Official) April 2, 2018

The Pavilion will soon add on more international franchise brands to cater to a vast public audience. pic.twitter.com/ibLkLwk5s7

— MWSC (@MWSC_Official) April 2, 2018