Business
Gulf Air to begin Maldives service on Oct 26 with five weekly direct flights
Bahrain’s flagship carrier Gulf Air has announced plans to operate five weekly non-stop flights to the Maldives starting October 26.
Gulf Air will operate five weekly non-stop flights from Bahrain International Airport, departing at 11.20pm and landing at 6.25am local time and then an onward journey to Colombo at 7.25am, landing at 9.25am. The return flight begins in Colombo at 4.55pm, arrival in Male at 5.55pm and departing to the Kingdom of Bahrain at 6.55pm, landing at 10.05pm.
This route will be served by Gulf Air’s third and newest Airbus A320neo jet, which was welcomed into the airline’s fleet on Saturday. This is part of a major fleet development project, which will see the airline receive a total of 12 Airbus A320neo aircraft by the end of 2023.
“We are proud of this fantastic milestone as we continue with our brand promise in expanding our fleet along with our network,” Krešimir Kučko, Chief Executive Officer at Gulf Air, was quoted in a statement, as saying.
“With its tranquil beaches and crystal clear waters; the Maldives is a breath-taking destination that fits perfectly in our new boutique strategy where we cater to the premium traveller seeking a tropical holiday wrapped in luxury, endorsed by our excellent connectivity through Bahrain International Airport.”
Gulf Air’s A320neo is the most advanced and fuel-efficient version of the single-aisle A320 aircraft family. Featuring the widest single aisle cabin in the market, the new aircraft is equipped with LEAP-1A engines from CFM International and feature large wingtip devices known as Sharklets. The A320neo is also more eco-friendly with 5,000 tonnes less CO2 emissions per year per aircraft, and nearly 50 per cent reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft.
Since its establishment in 1950, Gulf Air has become a major international carrier, serving 50 destinations in 28 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe. The airline operates double daily flights or more to 10 regional cities, in addition to select destinations in the Indian subcontinent and Europe, from its hub at Bahrain International Airport.
Gulf Air operates a modern fleet of 36 aircraft, with orders for 37 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft due for delivery commencing in early next year.
Middle East has become an emerging source market for the Maldives.
In 2018, 52,114 tourists from Middle Eastern countries visited the Maldives — a 5.9 per cent increase over the 49,193 in 2017. This growth is set to continue this year, as arrivals from the Middle East posted a 16.7 per cent growth in the first four months of the year to reach 19,253 from 16,497 in the same period last year.
Major airlines in the Middle East, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Oman Air and Saudia already operate flights to the Maldives.
Business
Feydhoo Hall opens at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives as new event space
Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has announced the opening of Feydhoo Hall, a landmark event venue at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives, redefining the possibilities for meetings, celebrations, and destination events in the Maldives.
Designed to bring scale, flexibility, and creativity to island gatherings, Feydhoo Hall represents a bold step forward in positioning the Maldives as a dynamic destination for conferences, weddings, and large-scale social occasions.
Feydhoo Hall offers a versatile event complex designed to accommodate a wide range of gatherings, from corporate meetings and conferences to weddings and social celebrations.

At its core is the 390 sqm Main Hall, capable of hosting:
- Up to 300 guests in theatre-style setup
- Up to 240 guests for dining and banquet-style events
- Up to 200 guests for cocktail-style receptions
- Up to 144 guests in cluster-round configuration
Enhancing the flexibility of the venue are additional dedicated spaces, including:
- A 110 sqm Veranda Terrace, ideal for welcome receptions, breakout sessions, and pre-event gatherings, accommodating up to 100 guests for cocktail-style events.
- A spacious 1,000 sqm Lawn Space, perfect for large-scale outdoor celebrations, destination weddings, and open-air events, accommodating up to 400 guests for cocktail receptions and up to 350 guests for dining setups.
- The 55 sqm Ekugai Meeting Room, designed for smaller meetings and executive sessions, accommodating up to 30 guests in theatre or dining setup and 24 guests in cluster-round format.
Together, these integrated spaces create a seamless indoor-outdoor event experience, allowing planners to design dynamic and personalised event journeys.
True to the dusitD2 brand’s lifestyle-driven philosophy, Feydhoo Hall introduces a fresh approach to meetings and events — where productivity meets creativity in an inspiring island setting.
The venue offers flexible meeting formats designed to suit different event needs, including:
- Half-Day Meeting Package (4 hours) — ideal for focused sessions, executive meetings, and creative workshops.
- Full-Day Meeting Package (8 hours) — designed for immersive conferences, extended workshops, and large-scale corporate gatherings.
These thoughtfully structured packages provide planners with the flexibility to create impactful and seamless experiences, whether hosting intimate strategy sessions or dynamic full-day events.

Located just seven minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives combines accessibility with vibrant lifestyle energy, offering event planners and guests a rare balance between convenience and tropical escape.
With the introduction of Feydhoo Hall, the resort strengthens its position as a versatile destination — not only for leisure travellers but also for international conferences, creative retreats, luxury weddings, and large-scale social celebrations seeking something refreshingly different in the Maldives.
Business
BBM expands retail presence with new Hulhumalé outlet
Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) opened a new wholesale store in Hulhumalé Phase 2 on Monday.
The outlet is located on the ground floor of Lot 20286, Nirolhu Magu, and is intended to improve access to BBM’s imported goods for residents of Hulhumalé Phase 2 and for businesses operating in the area.
According to the company, the opening forms part of its plan to expand services closer to customers in line with population growth in Hulhumalé.
With the opening of the new store, BBM’s full range of imported and distributed products will be available at the Hulhumalé Phase 2 location. These include consumer goods from international brands such as Lifebuoy, Vaseline and Unilever.
The store will also stock wholesale food products from brands including Daily, Cavin’s and Redman.
BBM has supplied goods to resorts, hotels and retail outlets across the Maldives for several years.
Action
Ataraxis Grand & Spa hosts integrated work-and-dive corporate retreat in Fuvahmulah
Ataraxis Grand & Spa recently hosted a week-long, closed corporate offsite in Fuvahmulah for a US-based artificial intelligence company, highlighting the island’s growing suitability for integrated work-and-experience retreats. The retreat brought a group of 36 international professionals to the property, which was reserved exclusively for the programme.
Designed as a private company offsite, the stay combined structured daily work sessions with guided diving and beginner-friendly surf experiences, creating a balanced format that blended focused collaboration with physical reset.

A notable component of the programme was dive training and certification. During the retreat, 17 participants completed their Open Water certification, while a further six undertook the Advanced Open Water course, with training and dives scheduled alongside work sessions as part of the integrated itinerary.
Throughout the week, participants worked on-site using dedicated shared spaces supported by reliable high-speed internet, allowing meetings, informal collaboration and scheduled activities to take place within a single, uninterrupted environment. This setup enabled teams to move seamlessly between work periods and organised ocean activities without leaving the property.

Fuvahmulah’s natural and operational advantages formed a key part of the retreat’s appeal. As one of the Maldives’ largest inhabited islands, it offers immediate access to pelagic dive sites, internationally recognised shark diving and surf breaks suitable for instruction, alongside the infrastructure required to support extended group stays.

The offsite reflects a growing preference among technology and knowledge-sector teams for small-scale retreats that prioritise concentrated work environments and team cohesion over traditional conference formats. Such programmes typically involve longer stays and higher per-capita spend, aligning with sustainable, quality-driven tourism models.
The retreat also demonstrates how locally operated properties such as Ataraxis Grand & Spa are supporting this shift by delivering unified environments where accommodation, workspaces, connectivity and curated experiences operate as a single programme rather than separate services.

As organisations continue to explore alternative formats for strategy sessions, team resets and creative offsites, Ataraxis Grand & Spa’s experience positions Fuvahmulah as an increasingly viable destination for integrated corporate retreats.
Ataraxis Grand & Spa offers work-and-dive retreat programmes in Fuvahmulah that combine accommodation, dedicated workspaces, high-speed connectivity and organised diving and surfing.

Further information on retreat formats and dive-inclusive stays is available via the Ataraxis Grand & Spa website.
-
Action1 week agoBestbuy Maldives supports health, wellness as Main Sponsor of MNU Marathon 2026
-
Cooking1 week agoMaagiri Hotel invites guests to celebrate Ramadan with daily Iftar
-
Awards1 week agoEllaidhoo Maldives secures HolidayCheck Gold Award for second consecutive year
-
Love1 week agoRomance in nature: Valentine’s week at Eri Maldives
-
Food1 week agoOBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi invites guests to break fast island-style this Ramadan
-
Business5 days agoFeydhoo Hall opens at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives as new event space
-
Awards1 week agoReethi Faru Resort recognised with HolidayCheck Award 2026
-
News5 days agoVentive Hospitality aligns Maldives portfolio with Green Fins marine sustainability platform


