The Maldives will receive 100 electric water taxis over the next three years in a boost for a "cleaner, quieter, and more scalable" model for island transportation.
It will also help the island nation, known for its rich luxury tourism, reach its goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, according to a statement by US-based Navier, a maritime technology company, which is collaborating with the UAE-based JIH Global Investment for the project.
"The partnership will establish the Navier Network in the Maldives, a software-driven sustainable maritime corridor designed to connect airports, resorts, private villas, and local islands through a fleet of high-performance hydrofoil vessels. The broader partnership represents an expected fleet value of approximately $100 million," said the statement released early June.
The island nation will see the initial rollout of five Navier N30 vessels in 2026, as well as up to 95 additional vessels to be deployed over the next three years.