News
Kurumba Maldives – Party With A Purpose

Maldives.net.mv – On Thursday 21st April Kurumba Maldives proudly hosted the fundraising event “Party with a Purpose”. This event was held for the fifth consecutive year in aid of 145 orphaned and foster children residing at “Kudakudhinge Hiyaa” located on Villingili and Hulhumalé islands. Support from 9 different Maldivian musician acts, many suppliers and partners contributed to raise over US$23,000. This upcoming year, the funds will be destined mostly to educational projects, in cooperation with the local nongovernmental organization ARC – Advocating the Rights for the Children – and Kudakudhinge Hiyaa.
Local artists volunteered their time to perform Maldivian and international tunes in an outdoor setting for the resident guests and invitees’ enjoyment. Performances took place at Kandu Bar between 5.00pm to 12am. The musicians who offered their time and joie de vivre were: Island Fusion, Passive Harmony, Flower Rain, Mishy, Mira, Rishvan Imon, Def Note, DJ Paidé, DJ Maapu and Ammaday.
The set up for the event would have not been possible without the immense support of Event Maldives, as well as a taskforce of more than 55 team members from Kurumba Maldives, who volunteered cheerfully.
Local and foreign suppliers; Cosmopolitan, SIMDI Beverages, Grape Expectations, MMI Maldives, Navean, Coca Cola, SAFCO, Yeoman Group, Good Food Exports, donated goods that were used as refreshments and nourishment throughout the day, from which all proceeds went to the cause. Other suppliers that contributed with diverse useful goods were M7 Print, Bee House and Rateria.
The silent auction was blessed this year with the remarkable support of 24 resorts and 3 major airline carriers as sponsors. This was conducted throughout the event with many guests bidding for the following resorts and prizes: Amari Havodda, Amilla Fushi, Bandos Maldives, Coco Bodu Hithi, Crown & Champa Resorts, Four Seasons Resort at Kuda Huraa, Gili Lankanfushi, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma, Hotel Jen, Jumeirah Vittaveli, LUX* South Ari Atoll, Maalifushi by COMO, Oblu by Atmosphere at Helengeli, Olhuveli Beach Resort & Spa, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, Reethi Beach Resort, Sheraton Full Moon Resort & Spa, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Thulhagiri, Velassaru, Vivanta Coral Reef by Taj, W Retreat & Spa, Universal Resorts, Kurumba Maldives, Veli Spa, Emirates Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airlines.
The evening was a great success with many locals, expatriates, local media and senior business invitees plus Kurumba’s in house guests joining in. There was non-stop live entertainment and the evening was blessed with almost perfect weather to host such an event. This year, we also counted on the support of Think Maldives and Digital Studio for photography and videography purposes.
The Kudakudhinge Hiyaa orphanage, located on Villingili and Hulhumalé islands, hosts children between the ages of 6 months and 21 years old. This is a self-supporting service that requires help from the community and industry in order to continue providing a caring, safe and educational environment for these children.
Ali Farooq, Assistant Food & Beverage Manager and Champion of ARC and the orphanages commented: “This is the 5th consecutive and successful year for Party with a Purpose. We are very thankful for the vast support and contributions of performers, suppliers, resorts, airlines and attendees. This is a great achievement for us and we are very proud to support our local community, ARC – Advocating the Rights of Children – and the Kudakudhinge Hiyaa orphanage. We will strive to continue with this charitable event year after year.”
For more information on Kurumba Maldives’ CSR program, please check www.kurumba.com/maldives-csr-activities For more information about upcoming events in Kurumba Maldives, please check www.kurumba.com/maldives-
Action
Consistently awarded, beyond compare: Machchafushi Island Resort’s house reef

Recently recognised among the Best House Reefs in the Maldives by the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025, the house reef at Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa, The Centara Collection (formerly known as Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa), offers an extraordinary experience for divers and snorkelers alike. The South Ari Atoll in the Maldives is renowned for its exceptional diving sites, snorkelling, and marine adventures, and the resort’s house reef only enhances this natural beauty with its rich marine biodiversity, thriving coral gardens, and easy access from the shore.

The Machchafushi house reef is approximately five times larger than the island itself, encircling a breathtaking lagoon. Most of the coral reef lies on a gentle slope, descending to depths of 15 – 20m, where it then flattens out into a sandy seabed. At around 30m from the top of the reef, guests can explore a remarkable shipwreck. This sunken treasure is home to a variety of marine species, including glassfish, stonefish and nurse sharks.
Among the largest coral species found on any house reef, the Machchafushi house reef is home to rare varieties such as Acropora granulosa and Acropora latistella, found exclusively on the wreck. The surrounding coral gardens showcase vibrant Blue Coral and Staghorn Coral, creating a stunning display of marine biodiversity.

Marine life thrives around the house reef, with seven resident Nurse sharks, including three adults, one sub-adult, and three juveniles. White Tip Reef sharks, the most curious of the reef’s sharks, are often seen coming close to snorkelers and divers. Other notable species include
Black Tip sharks, Lemon sharks, Leopard sharks, Guitar sharks, and various rays. The Black Blotched Stingrays, known for their friendly nature despite their large size, are a common sight, especially around feeding areas and the reef’s shallow waters. The barbless male rays are particularly known for their gentle interactions with guests.

Sustainability is at the heart of Machchafushi Island Resort’s philosophy. Coral protection, reef conservation, and restoration projects are continuously rolled out, ensuring that the house reef remains a thriving ecosystem for future generations. Guests are regularly educated about the reef’s delicate ecosystem, its abundant marine life, and the resort’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable practices.
Sharing his views, Cluster General Manager of Machchafushi Island Resort and Spa, Francesco Pompilio said, “This honour reflects not only the natural beauty of our house reef, but also the unwavering commitment of our team to its protection and preservation. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and we remain dedicated to safeguarding this vibrant marine sanctuary for generations to come. We are deeply grateful to our guests for their continued trust and patronage.”

Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Machchafushi Island Resort’s house reef, where exceptional diving, vibrant coral gardens, and abundant marine life meet, all set against the backdrop of the Maldives’ unparalleled natural beauty.
Cooking
Jumeirah Olhahali Island welcomes Shimmers’ Chef Emanuele for exclusive culinary residency this July

Jumeirah Olhahali Island has announced a culinary residency in collaboration with Chef Emanuele De Leo, Head Chef of the award-winning Shimmers at Jumeirah Mina Al Salam in Dubai. Taking place from 7 to 10 July 2025, this exclusive experience will bring the vibrant flavours of the Mediterranean to the Maldives through a specially curated tasting-style menu.
Following a stint as Sous Chef at L’Olivo at Al Mahara, the two Michelin-starred restaurant at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, Chef Emanuele took up his position as Head Chef at Shimmers in 2023. There, he leads the kitchen, where his menu pays homage to his Sicilian heritage, while embracing bold, contemporary interpretations of classic Mediterranean cuisine. Under his direction, Shimmers has earned recognition from Gault&Millau UAE in 2025, a testament of the restaurant’s elevated dining experience and Chef Emanuele’s distinctive culinary vision. With a strong focus on seasonality, he draws inspiration from the freshest market produce, transforming each ingredient into flavour-driven, elegantly presented creations.

For his residency at Jumeirah Olhahali Island, Chef Emanuele has crafted a bespoke menu that fuses Greek influences with his Sicilian roots, showcasing refined coastal flavours and thoughtfully sourced seasonal ingredients. In true Shimmers fashion, the evening will be presented as a series of small, shareable plates, designed to bring guests together around the table. Highlights include a fresh cauliflower salad, zingy tuna tartare, and grilled octopus with Santorini fava. These are followed by indulgent mains such as slow-braised beef cheek paired with celery purée and red wine jus, alongside orzo with red prawns, lemon, and caviar. The experience concludes, with a duo of desserts: Greek yoghurt ice cream and orange crème brûlée, offering a refreshing and indulgent finale.
The exclusive dinner experience with Chef Emanuele is priced at USD 195 plus taxes per person. For more information or to reserve, visit the Jumeirah Olhahali Island website here.
Drink
Cellar of quiet distinction: Vakkaru Reserve wins fifth Wine Spectator Award

At Vakkaru Maldives, wine isn’t merely served — it is curated, conversed with, and quietly revered. This has led to the resort’s European wine cellar, Vakkaru Reserve, being awarded Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for the fifth year — the only resort in the Maldives to have done so.
Vakkaru Reserve, an intimate, striking space at the heart of the island, houses 620 labels selected with care by Head Sommelier Retheesh Kakkareth Mohanan and Assistant Sommelier Vasantha Kumar Nadarajah. Some stars in the collection favour narrative as much as provenance: a Château Cheval Blanc Premier Grand Cru Classé A trio from 1983, 1985 and 1990; Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2009; Krug Clos du Mesnil Blanc de Blanc Brut 2002 and Château Pavie 1982, each one a vignette of a time and place, waiting to be uncorked.
“Our intention with Vakkaru Reserve has never been to impress with excess,” says Teddy Susanto Wiryawan, General Manager of Vakkaru Maldives. “Instead, it’s about assembling a collection that invites reflection, wines that linger in the mind as much as on the palate. This fifth award is not a milestone, but a reminder to keep listening to winemakers, regions, and the guests who come here seeking something they can’t find elsewhere.”
In a setting where time is allowed to stretch and the pace remains unhurried, the wine experience is naturally immersive. Vakkaru’s cellar hosts guided tastings, bespoke pairings, and a distinctive offering — a Wine & Chocolate Pairing Experience, where artisanal chocolates crafted in-house are paired with wine labels in unexpected harmony. Think Yuzu and Matcha Bonbon with Sauvignon Blanc, or an Espresso Bonbon set against a Tawny Port, delicious, deliberate acts of indulgence.
Vakkaru Reserve remains a quiet benchmark for those who appreciate depth over display. In this place of timelessness, let your wine journey stand less on ceremony, and more on memory and discovery.
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