Featured
World Bank launches $16.5 mln project to support Maldives urban development
World Bank has announced a $16.5 million project to support resilient urban development and disaster preparedness in the Maldives.
Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, the World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and Maldivian finance minister Ibrahim Ameer signed the project agreement last week.
The World Bank said the Maldives Urban Development and Resilience Project will support the Maldivian government’s efforts to modernise the country’ urban infrastructure, enabling its expansion whilst making it more climate resilient.
This will include renewal of the obsolete storm water drainage system in capital Male, the bulk of which is over 40 years old and has not been functional for the past decade, it said.
The Washington-based development bank said the project will also fund a sewage treatment plant on the suburban town of Hulhumale. The plant is expected to reduce the release of untreated wastewater into the sea, protecting fisheries and tourism industry from pollution, it added.
“Social distancing is particularly challenging in congested cities, and the government’s efforts to develop regional hubs and a housing policy that reduces congestion are key to building the country’s resilience to natural disasters and disease outbreaks,” Pswarayi-Riddihough was quoted in a statement, as saying.
According to the World Bank, the project will also help Maldives better manage the impact of climate change risks by strengthening emergency preparedness, including the provision of modern early warning systems engaging citizens.
“With the incidence of fires on the rise, improving drainage and helping store rainwater will not only increase the availability of fresh water on these islands, it will also make more water available for fire-fighting in the crowded urban environments,” Kwabena Amankwah-Ayeh and Suranga Kahandawa, the World Bank’s task team leaders for the project, said.
The project is financed through a $8.25 million grant and a $8.25 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank arm that offers concessional loans and grants to the world’s poorest developing countries.
Photo: Maldivian Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer (L2) is pictured during the World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund (IMF) joint annual general meetings held in Washington DC in October 2019. FILE PHOTO/ FINANCE MINISTRY
Awards
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau secures Readers’ Choice Awards nomination
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has been nominated in the “Resort” category of the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026, one of the travel industry’s recognised measures of guest preference and brand standing.
Located in Raa Atoll, the resort is continuing to build its profile through its all-Club concept, service model and guest experiences shaped by both location and programme. As the Maldives’ first all-Club InterContinental resort, the property includes a set of signature benefits with each stay, including daily breakfast, afternoon tea and evening aperitif.
The resort features 81 beach, lagoon and overwater villas and residences, along with seven restaurants and bars. Its guest offering combines private accommodation with a range of tailored experiences, including manta ray encounters in the Maamunagau lagoon, customised Dining by Design experiences, visiting wellness practitioners and its Artist in Residence programme.
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is also positioned to serve both couples and families, through its family offering and adults-only Retreat enclave.
The nomination reflects continued recognition for a resort that combines service, experience-led programming and a natural setting within one of the Maldives’ established tourism atolls.
Featured
Westin Maldives Miriandhoo introduces Family Fun Summer package
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has introduced its Family Fun Summer offer, aimed at families seeking longer island stays built around shared activities and rest. The offer is available for booking from 15 April to 15 June 2026, with a minimum stay of four nights for travel through to 20 December 2026.
Located within Baa Atoll, the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is positioning the offer around family wellness, marine experiences and time spent together in a natural island setting. Seasonal snorkelling with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay remains one of the area’s key attractions, while the resort’s collection of beach and overwater villas is designed to accommodate families looking for space and flexibility during their stay.
For larger families and groups, the resort also offers the two-bedroom Heavenly Beach Residence, which includes a living room, kitchen and dining area intended to support longer and more relaxed island stays.
The resort says the guest experience can be shaped around both activity and downtime, supported by Westin’s Sleep Well concept and Heavenly Bed. Children have access to the Westin Family Kids Club, which includes a children’s pool and pirate ship, while parents can make use of Heavenly Spa by Westin.
Away from the villa, the resort is also promoting shared family experiences through Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy activities focused on the culture and environment of Baa Atoll. These include traditional lacquer craft workshops, visits to local islands and guided marine activities in surrounding waters.
The Family Fun Summer package includes three meals per day, with children under 12 dining free of charge. It also includes a one-time dolphin cruise for two adults and two children, a 30-minute photography session with one printed photo, and a USD 150 resort credit.
Awards
Reethi Faru Resort recognised in four categories at 2026 Haute Grandeur Awards
Reethi Faru Resort has been recognised at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, receiving honours in four categories: Best Beach Villa in Indian Ocean, Best Pool Villa in Indian Ocean, Best Eco-Friendly Resort in Maldives, and Best Sustainable Hotel in Maldives.
The awards recognise performance across villa accommodation and environmentally focused hospitality, reflecting the resort’s emphasis on guest experience alongside sustainability and environmental stewardship.
According to the resort, the recognition supports its positioning within the Maldives market as a property that combines natural surroundings, accommodation standards and responsible hospitality practices.
Located on Filaidhoo in Raa Atoll, Reethi Faru Resort features 145 villas, including beachfront and overwater accommodation designed in a style that combines Maldivian elements with contemporary comfort.
The resort’s food and beverage offering includes six restaurants and six bars, while its leisure facilities cover watersports, diving, yoga, spa treatments and fitness activities. Surrounded by coral reefs, the resort also offers guests access to marine-based experiences in the Indian Ocean.
Sustainability remains a central part of the resort’s operations, with initiatives that include coral reef restoration and guest experiences linked to environmental awareness.
Through its recognition at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, Reethi Faru Resort has added to its profile as a Maldives resort with a focus on both accommodation standards and sustainability.
-
Featured1 week agoFour Seasons Resorts Maldives blend family travel with marine discovery
-
News1 week agoMandara Spa celebrates 30th anniversary with focus on Maldives growth
-
Featured7 days agoELE|NA expands sustainable wellness approach for World Earth Day
-
Featured7 days agoThe Nautilus Maldives brings back Ocean Discovery Week
-
Awards6 days agoGrand Park Kodhipparu retains Green Globe Certification for seventh year
-
News6 days agoRAH GILI MALDIVES secures EarthCheck Bronze Benchmark following opening
-
News1 week agodusitD2 Feydhoo launches retro-themed island party event
-
Featured3 days agoWestin Maldives Miriandhoo introduces Family Fun Summer package


