Manoel Island and Fort Tigné have officially returned to public hands following the signing of an agreement between the Maltese government and MIDI plc.
The agreement was signed on Manoel Island in the presence of Prime Minister Robert Abela, who has described the agreement as a "historic moment" that turns into reality what he called the long-held dream of the Maltese and Gozitan people to reclaim the two landmark sites.
Under the agreement, responsibility for Manoel Island and Fort Tigné will pass to Heritage Malta, which will oversee the preservation and future management of the areas.
The Prime Minister has said the government will move to amend the local plan to ensure that no development can take place on Manoel Island, with the aim of safeguarding the site for future generations.
The government will now continue with plans to transform the area into a national park shaped by the wishes expressed by the public during a consultation process that attracted thousands of submissions.
"The people want a project that protects the landscape, where the public interest always comes first and where there is total accessibility for our people," Abela said.
The planned national park will preserve the island's natural landscapes and bays while also protecting the historical heritage found on Manoel Island.
The Prime Minister has also said in past days that in the next legislature the government intends to prioritise three national parks - Manoel Island, White Rocks and Fort Campbell - describing them as among the most important legacies his administration hopes to leave for future generations.
Abela argued that the decision showed the government was placing people's wellbeing ahead of financial considerations.
"We could take this decision because today we have a strong economy and stability, which we want to continue building on in the years ahead so that we can keep taking decisions like these," he said.
The MIDI consortium had been granted a 99-year lease in 2000 to develop Manoel Island and Tigné Point, including restoring historical sites (Lazaretto, Fort Manoel, Fort Tigné) in exchange for development rights.
Today's agreement, with the government forking out €43 million, follows years of public debate over the future of the island, a site of historical significance in Marsamxett Harbour.
In 2024, a grassroots petition gathered more than 29,000 signatures calling for the island to be converted into a natural heritage park, with activists working alongside residents, NGOs and experts to promote alternative uses centred on public enjoyment and environmental protection. The government had initially rebuffed the idea but had eventually sought agreement with MIDI.
A settlement between the government and MIDI was reached in March 2026, effectively bringing an end to the 99-year concession covering Manoel Island and Fort Tigné.
In a statement on the Stock Exchange, Midi said that following approval by the House of Representatives and the approval by the shareholders of the Company at the extraordinary general meeting held on 28 April 2026, a public deed was today entered into between the Government of Malta, Transport Malta and the company for the rescission and termination of the Emphyteutical Concession over Manoel Island and Fort Tigné, resulting in the return thereof to Government.