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Sun Siyam Resorts delivers commitment to sustainability from bottom of ocean on World Oceans Day

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Sun Siyam Resorts honoured this year’s World Ocean Day 2023 with a resort-wide and simultaneously held underwater gathering to sign a declaration of commitment to sustainability at precisely 09:30 am, local time on June 08,2023, which was joined by the property heads of departments and sustainability committee members. The pledge goes towards supporting and continuing various sustainable initiatives and actions such as: picking up washed-up trash from beaches and the ocean, avoiding plastic bags, straws, cutlery, and unnecessary packaging, as well as cosmetics using microbeads, reducing energy and water use, managing waste to reduce plastic use, minimise the environmental impact, and preserving the ocean and its inhabitants.

In addition to the pledging ceremony held underwater, all resorts held a variety of sustainable activities during the day to mark the occasion and to bring together guests, staff, and local communities to celebrate the beauty of the ocean and inspire action to protect it.

Guests at Siyam World Maldives joined the island-based, local marine biologist Thuhu and the island team for a special lagoon island clean up event in the morning, where everyone could actively “make a difference” while the team at Sun Siyam Vilu Reef hosted a lecture and awareness programme conducted by marine biologist Mohamed Zahuwaan Shakir from the Marine Research Institute in the Maldives on various ocean specific topics and preserving the oceans for the local community of nearby island Dh. Bandidhoo. Participants learned about the impact of plastic pollution on our oceans and marine life, and received tips on how they can reduce their own plastic usage.

All other properties in the Sun Siyam resorts portfolio, as well as Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Sun Siyam Iru Veli, and Sun Siyam Olhuveli carried out several environmental and sustainability activities throughout the day, from tree planting ceremonies, to reef, beach, and lagoon cleaning sessions, marine biology talks, and pledging ceremonies on the properties itself as well as on nearby local islands.

This initiative is part of the Sun Siyam Cares sustainability programme which is actively practised at all Sun Siyam Resorts to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The programme prioritises sustainability through initiatives such as reducing energy and water use, managing waste to reduce plastic use, supporting community development, and investing in renewable energy. It also focuses on conservation efforts and work to preserve local heritage and cultural practices. By following these sustainability practices, Sun Siyam Resort aims to minimise its environmental impact, carbon footprint and contribute to the socio-economic well-being of the communities in which they operate.

To find out more about Sun Siyam Resorts and its sustainability efforts and activities, please visit the website or book your stay at www.sunsiyam.com.

Entertainment

Former Savoy Hotel pianist Richard Sully to perform at V Villas Maldives at Mirihi

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V Villas Maldives at Mirihi – MGallery Collection has announced a residency by British pianist Richard Sully from 4 to 9 November 2026, featuring a series of live performances alongside dining experiences, sunset cruises and evening gatherings across the resort.

Sully, a former resident pianist at London’s Savoy Hotel, has performed at venues across Britain and internationally. His repertoire includes popular music, light jazz, classic standards and compositions from film and theatre, which he performs entirely from memory.

The residency will begin on 4 November with sundowner cocktails and a Lobster Extravaganza on the beach, accompanied by a live piano performance. The opening evening will combine music with beachfront dining.

On 5 November, Sully will perform at AKOYA Sea Lounge, offering guests an evening of live music in the resort’s oceanfront setting.

The programme will continue on 7 November with a sunset cruise aboard the Mirihi Thari Sailing Yacht, bringing the musical experience onto the Indian Ocean.

On 8 November, Sully will present a sundowner performance at Muraka, before concluding his residency with a final evening performance at AKOYA Sea Lounge on 9 November.

The five scheduled experiences form part of the resort’s efforts to incorporate live entertainment into its dining and leisure offerings, allowing guests to enjoy music in different settings across the island.

V Villas Maldives at Mirihi, part of the MGallery Collection, offers beach and overwater accommodation, oceanfront dining and marine experiences. The November residency will add a series of music-focused activities to the resort’s guest experience programme.

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Fashion

KAYALI showcases Maldives as luxury brand destination with first global trip

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Global fragrance brand KAYALI, founded by beauty entrepreneur Mona Kattan, selected Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa as the destination for its first-ever global brand trip, bringing together international content creators, influencers and media representatives for an experience combining fragrance, wellness and Maldivian island hospitality.

Held in September 2026, the event, titled KAYALI Island Spraycation, marked a milestone in the brand’s international engagement strategy. The programme featured two exclusive trips designed for its influencer and media communities, providing participants with opportunities to experience the brand’s fragrances alongside the resort’s accommodation, wellness facilities and marine excursions.

The Maldives was selected because of Kattan’s personal connection with the destination, which she has frequently described as one of her favourite places. Her experiences in the country have also influenced KAYALI’s fragrance development, including its Vacay in a Bottle collection, which draws inspiration from travel and destinations.

Located in North Malé Atoll, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa provided the setting for several brand activations, with villas, wellness experiences and guest activities incorporating KAYALI’s fragrances and visual identity.

Upon arrival, participants were welcomed with personalised amenities, fragrance collections and branded gifts. Guest accommodation featured KAYALI products, robes and sleep accessories, while the resort’s hospitality team collaborated on themed turndown experiences and personalised arrangements.

One of the programme’s highlights was a wellness experience at ŪRJĀ Naturopathy Island, the resort’s dedicated wellness sanctuary. Inspired by KAYALI’s Yum Lip & Body Collection, the House of Yum: Layer With Love experience introduced participants to body care and fragrance layering through treatments and product demonstrations.

The itinerary also included the KAYALI Scent Lab, an interactive session exploring fragrance ingredients, formulation and the Middle Eastern tradition of combining different scents.

Kara Davis, the brand’s Vice President of Global Marketing, and Robert Nasser Sabet, Director of Global Sales and Education, guided participants through the development of KAYALI fragrances and the techniques used to combine different scent profiles.

Participants were introduced to fragrances from the brand’s portfolio, including Vanilla | 28, Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar | 42 and Yum Boujee Marshmallow | 81. They also received an exclusive preview of an unreleased KAYALI fragrance ahead of its planned October 2026 launch.

Beyond the fragrance sessions, the programme incorporated resort dining, themed entertainment and ocean experiences. A KAYALI movie night, inspired by the brand’s Boujee Kitty Caramel Milk fragrance, brought participants together for an evening of entertainment and personalised hospitality.

Guests also joined a dolphin-watching excursion aboard the Perfume Princess yacht, providing an opportunity to experience the marine environment surrounding the resort. The programme concluded with a farewell dinner that brought together participants from different international markets.

The trip followed previous KAYALI destination-based activations, including a visit to Cappadocia, Türkiye, associated with the launch of its Freedom fragrance collection in late 2025. However, the Maldives event represented the brand’s first global trip bringing together its international creator and media communities.

Founded in 2018, KAYALI has developed an international following through its fragrance collections and emphasis on scent layering. The Maldives trip formed part of its efforts to engage content creators and media through experiences that extend beyond traditional product launches.

For Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, the collaboration demonstrated the property’s capacity to accommodate international luxury brand events requiring customised accommodation, wellness programmes, dining and recreational activities.

The event also highlighted the Maldives’ potential as a destination for global beauty, fashion and lifestyle brand activations, where international brands can combine product storytelling with resort hospitality and destination experiences.

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Lifestyle

Finolhu Maldives to host artist Yakov Khomich from 6 to 12 November

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This November, Finolhu, a Seaside Collection Resort invites guests to experience art through a new lens as contemporary artist Yakov Khomich takes up residence on the island from 6 to 12 November 2026. Set against the extraordinary natural beauty of the Maldives, the residency will transform Finolhu’s Art Lab into an intimate space for creativity, discovery and personal expression.

Based between France and Russia, Khomich has developed a distinctive artistic language that moves fluidly between techniques, visual references and ideas. Rather than being defined by a single style, his practice is intuitive and instinctive, often beginning with an image, memory or emotion before evolving organically on canvas. His work inhabits the space between reality and imagination, drawing on personal experience, cultural memory and the familiar symbols of everyday life.

Art has been part of Khomich’s world from an early age. Born into a family of artists, he grew up surrounded by museums and creative influences before pursuing an education across arts and cinema. He graduated from the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in 2023, specialising in painting and film and television art. Since 2019, his practice has increasingly embraced experimentation beyond academic conventions, resulting in an eclectic and highly personal approach to contemporary painting.

Khomich’s work has been presented internationally through solo and group exhibitions and at leading art fairs, including Cosmoscow Art Fair and Blazar Art Fair, alongside exhibitions with ART&BRUT Gallery in Moscow and Sur Play at Museum NOU in Barcelona. His works are held in private collections across the United States, Europe, China and Russia.

At Finolhu, Khomich’s residency will take art beyond observation and invite guests to become part of the creative process. Hosted through the resort’s Art Lab, the programme will offer a series of approachable experiences designed to encourage experimentation and individual expression, regardless of previous artistic experience.

The residency opens with a Meet & Greet during Finolhu’s signature White Party on 6 November, offering guests the opportunity to meet Khomich and discover his artistic world. A complimentary introductory art class follows on 7 November, with Group masterclasses on 8 and 10 November. For a more intimate experience, private art sessions will be available from 7 to 12 November, allowing guests to create alongside the artist in a more personal setting.

Rather than asking participants to reproduce a particular image or adhere to a rigid technique, the experience reflects Khomich’s own approach to art: observing, experimenting and allowing an idea to evolve through the act of making. His wider practice draws inspiration from human behaviour, childhood narratives and fragments of cultural memory, using familiar symbols and imagery to evoke feelings that may resist a single interpretation.

The residency forms part of Finolhu’s wider commitment to bringing art and design into the guest experience. The resort’s dedicated Art Lab has developed into a creative space for painting, pottery, fabric dyeing, resin art and visiting artist residencies, complementing Finolhu’s colourful design identity and its setting within the UNESCO-designated Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve.

Khomich’s residency follows acclaimed British designer Matthew Williamson, whose October residency will bring his celebrated use of colour, pattern and maximalist design to Finolhu. Together, the two residencies form part of the resort’s evolving creative programme, reflecting Finolhu’s belief that art is best experienced through connection, discovery and participation.

This November, guests are invited not simply to encounter contemporary art, but to step inside the creative process — and leave the island with an experience that is uniquely their own.

For more information and reservations, visit finolhu.com.

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