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Seven islands in Baa Atoll join forces on recycling with Soneva Namoona
Over 50 tonnes of recyclables sent for recycling from seven Namoona islands; Maalhos, Dharavandhoo, Dhonfanu, Kihaadhoo, Kamadhoo, Kudarikilu, and Kendhoo.
Four more islands in Baa Atoll have started working with Soneva Namoona to pilot a sustainable waste management system that can be adopted throughout the Maldives.
Dhonfanu, Kamadhoo, Kudarikilu and Kendhoo have joined the original three Namoona islands in Baa Atoll — Maalhos, Dharavandhoo, and Kihaadhoo —to commission a recyclable waste collection boat, which will regularly collect recyclable waste from the islands. On 6 December, the boat collected segregated, compacted, and baled recyclable waste from all seven islands for the first time the Maldives.
The boat collected over 50 tonnes of recyclable waste from the seven islands, consisting of aluminium, other metals, cardboard, tetra-paks (beverage cartons), and plastics, all of which will be sent abroad for recycling.
The island council Presidents of the seven islands joined the collection boat to celebrate this milestone of the Soneva Namoona programme.
Local islands face significant challenges in disposing of their waste in a clean and environmentally sound manner. Waste is rarely segregated properly into different types, which is a prerequisite for recycling, the waste management centres often lack equipment, and managing waste properly can be costly.
Soneva Namoona is implementing a radically new approach to waste management, focusing on island-level solutions, in partnership with the island councils and local communities.
The seven Baa Atoll islands that are part of Soneva Namoona have made great strides in tackling the waste problem, including:
- Cleaning up all the legacy waste that was piled up in the island waste management centres. Under the activity, ‘fresh start’, all the waste was first segregated and all the recyclable waste was sent for recycling.
- Using baling machines to massively reduce the volume of recyclable waste, making it easier to store, handle, and transport.
- Working together to create enough baled, compacted recyclable waste to fill the collection boat.
Commenting on the collection boat now visiting all seven Namoona islands in Baa Atoll, Ibrahim Rahman, Kendhoo Island Council President, said: “A good waste management system, which compliments local lifestyles of small developing communities, is the most necessary solution that our isolated islands need. This ongoing collaborative initiative of Soneva Namoona, implemented with these seven islands, represents a huge success and advancement in our waste management systems. Soneva Namoona has demonstrated an effective alternative approach to one of our biggest concerns.”
Azhoora Ahmed, President of Soneva Namoona NGO, said: “It has been a privilege working with these island communities who have all taken proactive steps to take control of the waste they produce. The Namoona Model shows how islands can work together to support each other. We are excited to see how this example could be adopted by more island clusters in the Maldives.” Azhoora Ahmed, President of Soneva Namoona NGO.
Soneva Namoona’s work in Dhonfanu, Kamadhoo, Kudarikilu and Kendhoo is funded by the Soneva Foundation and USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean programme.
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.
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.
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.
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