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Emirates, Maldivian establish interline partnership

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Emirates and Maldivian on Thursday announced an interline partnership, enabling Emirates customers to access 16 popular holiday destinations in the Maldives beyond Male.

The agreement successfully follows on from last year’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two airlines, to explore opportunities for mutual cooperation.

The interline agreement will create more options for Emirates customers when travelling to the Maldivian archipelago, utilising both carriers’ services and networks on a single ticket while also enhancing the customer experience throughout the journey.

Customers travelling to exotic island destinations in the Maldives will now be able to reap the benefit of flying into more popular holiday spots after connecting easily and seamlessly from Velana International Airport in the North Male atoll. Emirates passengers will link to Maldivian’s services to reach a choice of domestic points for their island getaway.

From 15 September, travel itineraries can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates mobile app, or preferred travel agents, for flights effective immediately.

“We are delighted to establish a partnership with Maldivian, to expand our reach into more points in the Maldives. By partnering with the Maldivian flag carrier, we are able to offer customers smooth connections when flying to a wide choice of islands within the country via Malé. By extending this added-value benefit, our customers from across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Americas can plan their journey to the Maldives with the convenience of booking flights on a single ticket to reach their final destination,” Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, said.

Emirates customers can fly to airports in a selection of the popular atolls via Male including Dharavandhoo Island (DRV), Faresmathoda Airport (FMT), Funadhoo Airport (FND), Fuvahmulak Island Airport (FVM), Gan Island International (GAN), Kooddoo Island (GKK), Hanimaadhoo Island Airport (HAQ), Kulhudhuffushi Airport (HDK), Hoarafushi Airport (HRF), Kaadedhdhoo Island Airport (KDM), Kadhdhoo Island (KDO), Madivaru Airport (LMV), Maafaru International Airport (NMF), Maavarulu Airport (RUL), Thimarafushi Airport (TMF), and Ifuru (IFU).

Furthermore, customers spending their holidays at other resort islands can also enjoy the convenience of travelling to the closest point in the interline network and are within reach of their final destination with only a short ride, by seaplane or boat.

As the partnership between both airlines evolves, more benefits and conveniences will be added to enhance the customer experience when travelling to the Maldives.

“We are excited to embark on this journey with Emirates, a global aviation leader. This partnership would enable us to increase the visibility of our extensive domestic network and it aligns perfectly with our objective of providing seamless connectivity to travellers. Customers will be able to plan and book their entire journey directly through the airline with ease. As the national carrier we always strive to make Maldives more accessible to travellers from around the world and we believe the partnership with Emirates will strengthen our position as the leading airline in Maldives,” Ibrahim Hamdhan Mohamed, General Manager – Commercial at Maldivian, said.

Emirates has supported the development and growth of tourism as well as trade in the Maldives for more than three and a half decades. The award-winning global airline commenced operations to Male in 1987 and now operates 28 flights a week between Dubai and the Maldives. With a choice of four flights per day to Male, customers from across Emirates’ network of almost 140 points have the flexibility to choose flights and enjoy the convenience of minimal connection times.

Through its 29 codeshare, 11 Intermodal and 117 interline partners, Emirates boasts a global footprint that encompasses destinations far beyond its own network, offering increased connectivity and convenient options for travellers.

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SO/ Maldives introduces ‘Fight Fit’ island fitness experience

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On Friday, 25 April 2026, redefining the boundaries of luxury wellness, SO/ Maldives unveils its high-energy “Fight Fit” island activation, an immersive celebration of strength, movement, and mindful living. As part of the resort’s ongoing 120 Days Fitness Challenge, this dynamic experience is brought to life in collaboration with Fight Soul Maldives, a leading local fitness collective dedicated to showcasing the art and discipline of combat sports.

This exclusive Maldives activation transforms the island into a vibrant stage where guests are invited not only to participate but to witness and connect with authentic local skill and passion. Through this partnership, SO/ Maldives proudly highlights homegrown talent, offering a deeper cultural dimension to the guest experience.

At the heart of the activation is the Muay Thai Guest Workshop, where guests can train alongside skilled fighters from Fight Soul Maldives. Designed for all fitness levels, the sessions introduce the fundamentals of Muay Thai through interactive drills, technique building, and high-energy group engagement creating a powerful and memorable connection to the sport.

The experience extends across the island with a curated lineup of fitness and wellness activities, including sunrise yoga, beach combat training, aqua yoga with DJ beats, and sunset fight showcases. Each activation is thoughtfully designed to blend seamlessly with the natural beauty of the Maldives, turning the resort into a holistic wellness playground.

Complementing the physical journey, guests can enjoy a specially designed healthy menu, crafted to fuel performance and support balanced living, reinforcing SO/ Maldives’ commitment to wellbeing from within.

Further enhancing the wellness offering, guests are invited to experience an exclusive skincare workshop and immersive ritual, alongside the launch of premium products from Comfort Zone. Rooted in science and sustainability, this experience introduces guests to transformative skincare practices that elevate both body and mind.

As the sun sets, the island pulses with energy through foam parties, fire dance performances, and live Muay Thai and kickboxing exhibitions, where Fight Soul Maldives athletes take center stage showcasing their expertise and passion in a captivating display of strength and artistry.

With “Fight Fit,” SO/ Maldives creates more than just an event it delivers a bold lifestyle statement where local collaboration, global wellness trends, and immersive luxury come together in perfect harmony.

For more information or to book your perfect getaway, please visit so-maldives.com or contact so.maldives.reservations@so-hotels.com or call +960 664-9100.

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Earth Day at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi: Sustainability-focused island experiences

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Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, a haven of peace within the Sun Siyam’s Luxury Collection, reinforces its commitment to luxury island living by highlighting a series of eco-conscious experiences. These initiatives define a vision for purpose-led travel within the resort’s Premium Island Indulgence lifestyle, connecting guests to the environment, local people, and Maldivian culture through sincere and unpretentious engagement. From reef restoration to traditional heritage crafts and preventing food waste, the resort seeks to balance the elegance of island living with a deep-rooted respect for the natural world.

The Pattern of Island Living

The way nature flourishes within remote archipelagos in the heart of the ocean remains a captivating subject for many travellers. On a weekly basis, the resort offers a guided nature exploration led by the Chief Gardener and Resident Marine Biologist to connect guests with the island’s indigenous flora and fauna. This experience blends ecological education with cultural insights, detailing how reptiles, birds, and emblematic trees first colonised these coral islands. By addressing contemporary challenges like soil erosion, the program provides practical examples of how eco-conscious tourism helps mitigate environmental impact and preserve the Maldivian landscape.

Marine Regeneration: Adopt a Coral Frame

A growing trend in 2026 is Regenerative Tourism where travellers actively participate in restoration. A central pillar of the resort’s marine conservation efforts is the Adopt a Coral Frame programme. Led by Maldivian Marine Biologist, Shah, the experience begins with an introduction to coral biology and the environmental challenges facing the world’s oceans. Guests participate in the delicate process of fixing coral fragments onto the frame using approved techniques, before the structures are transitioned to the Nemo Garden underwater park. This initiative offers a symbolic way for guests to contribute directly to the long-term health of the local reef ecosystem. Additionally, the presence of an environmental expert at the resort acts as the bridge between daily operations and its environmental responsibility.

Citizen Science: Conservation Snorkelling

For a more immersive and purposeful guest experience, participants are invited to act as citizen scientists during a ninety-minute reef health survey. Utilising CoralWatch Charts, guests assist in primary data collection, with the results subsequently uploaded to the University of Queensland database under the participant’s name to contribute to international marine research. Each session concludes with a briefing on observed fish species and the vital functions of the reef ecosystem. Additionally, if any individual turtle or group of turtles is spotted around the island, the resort’s Marine Biologist will identify the species and report its presence to the Olive Ridley Project. This contribution helps researchers better understand the population dynamics and migration patterns of sea turtles within the Maldives.

Marine Advocacy and Youth Discovery

Beyond individual excursions, the resort extends its educational reach through specialised certification and youth-focused programming. Divers may participate in dedicated sessions exploring the preservation of endangered shark and ray species, earning a Shark and Ray Ecology Certification upon completion. Simultaneously, the Discover the Ocean initiative at the Kids Club offers a bespoke one-hour experience for younger guests, utilising interactive games and marine facts to foster a refined appreciation for ocean conservation from an early age.

Cultural Heritage and Traditional Knowledge

Eco-conscious living at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi is also viewed through the lens of traditional Maldivian craftsmanship. Weekly demonstrations of organic coconut oil extraction highlight a homemade method. Guests observe the gentle heating of fresh coconut milk to produce pure oil, a sustainably sourced product utilised in the resort’s wellness treatments.

The Pledge on Food Waste

In a direct effort to reduce the environmental footprint of island dining, the resort has committed to The Pledge on Food Waste. This initiative introduces à la minute live cooking and curated individual portions at the buffet to ensure freshness while minimising surplus. Additionally, the team observes a No Bin Day, utilising creative preparation techniques to ensure total ingredient utility and promote a circular approach to food management.

“The advancement of sustainable practices is supported by acclaimed organisations that provide vital knowledge, ensuring that our commitment leads to meaningful success. Meanwhile, simple on-island actions remain highly impactful and are deeply appreciated by guests. Furthermore, as a Maldivian operating a resort within my own country, environmental stewardship is more than just professional ethics—it is a profound civic mission,” highlighted Abdulla Atham, Resort Manager.

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RAH GILI MALDIVES secures EarthCheck Bronze Benchmark following opening

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In recognition of Earth Day 2026, RAH GILI MALDIVES, the first operational island within the SIX & SIX PRIVATE ISLANDS collection, announces that it has achieved EarthCheck Bronze Benchmarked status under the EarthCheck Company Standard v4.1, following its opening in February this year.

The certification reflects a way of operating that has been in place from the outset. Across SIX & SIX PRIVATE ISLANDS, environmental performance is integrated into how each island is designed, built, and run, rather than introduced as an added layer. At RAH GILI MALDIVES, this approach is now active in daily operation.

Set across 8.7 hectares with 74 villas, the resort runs on infrastructure designed for continuity over time. Solar energy generation, supported by battery storage, contributes to the island’s energy needs. Water is produced and managed on-site through desalination and bottling systems. Waste is segregated and processed through structured practices that prioritise reduction and reuse. Materials have been selected for their ability to endure within the Maldivian climate, favouring longevity over short-term effect. These systems are not presented as features. They operate in the background, shaping the rhythm of the island and supporting a sense of ease without drawing attention to themselves.

In a destination such as the Maldives, where the natural environment defines the experience, this level of integration is essential. It requires consistency across all areas of operation—from engineering to housekeeping, from culinary practice to service delivery. EarthCheck, in this context, does not simply recognise infrastructure. It provides a framework to assess how effectively these systems are performing in practice.

As the first operational island within SIX & SIX PRIVATE ISLANDS, RAH GILI MALDIVES establishes the baseline for the collection. The certification signals that this foundation is in place, offering a clear reference point as future islands moves towards opening.

Beyond operations, the island remains grounded in its setting. Experiences are informed by Maldivian knowledge and ways of living, ensuring that what is offered remains connected to place rather than constructed apart from it. This is carried through the Rayyithun—the people of the islands—whose presence shapes how the island is cared for. Within this, an ethos of care is not expressed as an idea, but lived through daily practice, where responsibility is shared and sustained over time.

Harish Nair, Cluster General Manager for RAH GILI MALDIVES, commented: “EarthCheck provides a clear benchmark for how the resort is operating across energy, water, and waste. Achieving this early in our journey confirms that the foundations are in place. With Earth Day as a moment of reflection, the focus remains on how we continue to improve performance, consistently and over time.”

EarthCheck is one of the world’s leading scientific benchmarking and certification programmes for the travel and tourism industry, assessing performance across energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and community impact. For a newly opened resort to achieve Bronze Benchmarked status at this stage reflects an operational model that was established prior to opening and is now being tested in real conditions.

The announcement, aligned with Earth Day, offers a moment of reflection within a wider global conversation. For RAH GILI, however, the work sits in daily operation. It is found in monitoring systems, maintaining standards, and adjusting over time. The certification provides a point of reference, but not a conclusion.

As SIX & SIX PRIVATE ISLANDS continues to develop its portfolio, RAH GILI MALDIVES serves as a working model of how each island is intended to function—through clarity of design, consistency in operation, and a measured approach to impact.

For the resort, the EarthCheck Bronze Benchmarked status marks the beginning of a longer process—one defined by continuity, refinement, and sustained respect for the place in which the island exists.

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