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Oaga Art Resort’s remarkable first year: Local talent flourishes in Maldives

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In a world where the hospitality industry’s tides ebb and flow, Oaga Art Resort, a self-made local brand of Maldives, boldly flung open its doors to the world in January 2023, daring to redefine the very essence of luxury. This artistic haven in a short span of time has scored two feathers in its cap at the Maldives Tourism Awards 2023, an event hosted by the Maldives Tourism Ministry to commemorate National Tourism Day. One, for having the highest number of Maldivian employees at a tourist resort in the Maldives, and the other, for promoting local visual artists.

Having accomplished this feat in just a few months of operation is a testament to Oaga’s vision to cater authentic local experiences, stories and artistry to travellers by local islanders themselves. The concept instils the qualities, heritage and culture involved in providing hospitality to guests which have been practised in the Maldivian society throughout the ages.

The accounts of historians such as H.C.P. Bell or François Pyrard de Laval hold testament to the fact that the local community within the isles of Maldives were hospitable and friendly towards visiting travellers. Oaga translates this in the current hospitality context, giving priority to hire locals in order to effectively tap into the roots of the culture. Currently, 91% of the team are Maldivian.

At Oaga, each employee forms part of a community of islanders or ‘Rahvehin’ who are empowered to be mindful, open, creative and empathetic towards each other as well as visiting travellers. For the traveller, the difference is infinitely better, allowing for deeper connections with Maldivian culture and heritage through the stories surrounding the infrastructure and the islanders themselves.

The concept of Oaga also embodies that the meaning of being ‘Maldivian’ is ever changing, by embracing the creativity of local artists and craft makers. Murals by local artists have been incorporated within the walls of the Haruge Villas, depicting traditional Maldivian folklore spoken through the ages in their own style and method.

The Suvāsthi Art & Retail Gallery features 100% owned Maldivian brands, from small-scale businesses to more established ones, who create contemporary products as their own homage to Maldivian flora, fauna and traditions.

Suvāsthi also curates the largest local art collection held at a resort in Maldives, at Oaga. These artworks are exhibited tastefully on the walls of the resort’s Veyoge Garden Villas, offering an immersive and intimate artful experience to travellers.

This unique concept offers the world a chance to interact with and even own an authentic piece of local artwork. It also opened up a new platform for local artists to display their art and Oaga contributes $1 for each artwork in display, for each occupied night of the Veyoge Garden Villas. Of note, this is also the first time in Maldivian history where local art has been insured.

As per the management, “When we embarked on this journey to enter the tourism industry for the first time, our research showed that most hotels within the Maldivian industry are quite similar in concept and are owned and operated by large global hotel chains. We wanted to stand out from this and to establish a local brand within these giants. In doing so, we really wanted to focus on promoting the invaluable contributions already being made within the industry by local creatives, musicians and craftsmen as the root of our concept”.

For Maldives lovers searching for an all-inclusive holiday, Oaga Art Resort’s Greatest All-Inclusive plan re-defines the limits of what All-Inclusive is all about; with inclusions such as Free Flow (art) classes, Take Notes (music) experiences, In-Villa Dining to floating meal, choices of excursions, motorised watersports and many more. Situated in North Malé Atoll, Oaga Art Resort is 45 minutes by speedboat from Malé International Airport. A small island with 60 villas with beach and over water options, 5 dining venues and a spa inspired by Maldivian traditional healing practices, Oaga Art Resort’s artistic and creative spaces offer an immersive experience curated by local and visiting artists, and craftsmen from the Maldives.

Guests looking to book the resort can visit the website, www.oagaresorts.com to book your stay, don’t miss out!

Lifestyle

Rosamund Pike escapes to paradise at Patina Maldives

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Award-winning British actress Rosamund Pike recently traded the bustle of London for the serene turquoise waters of the Maldives, enjoying a picture-perfect escape at the luxurious Patina Maldives, Fari Islands. The “Gone Girl” star shared a dreamy video on social media, offering fans a glimpse into her idyllic tropical retreat—and it’s everything a Maldivian holiday should be.

In the video, Rosamund is seen immersing herself in the full island experience. From soaking up the sun at a private overwater villa to cruising on a dolphin-watching tour, biking along palm-lined paths, snorkeling with manta rays, and diving alongside sea turtles, it’s clear she embraced the magic of the Maldives. She even took to the waves on a water scooter, channeling her adventurous side in the most scenic setting imaginable.

Pike captioned her post with heartfelt reflection: “I left London on my very last ember and had a holiday of magical dimensions! The Maldives offer a glimpse of paradise, an escape from rush. @patinamaldives is a destination I have sought out three times; to practice doing nothing in preparation for playing Elspeth and this time to recover from doing too much. It is a heaven on your own terms— and I washed all my cares in salt and rinsed my soul in the sea. Here is a glimpse of bliss as I see it.”

Rosamund Pike is no stranger to immersive roles and demanding projects. Known for her powerful performances in films like Pride & Prejudice, Gone Girl, and the fantasy series The Wheel of Time, her career has spanned decades and earned critical acclaim. With such a busy professional life, it’s no wonder she finds solace and renewal at Patina Maldives.

Set in the pristine Fari Islands, Patina Maldives is a modern sanctuary that blends understated luxury with a deep connection to nature. Designed by renowned Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan, the resort offers minimalist aesthetics, eco-conscious living, and transformative experiences. Its overwater villas and beachfront retreats provide the ultimate in privacy and comfort, while curated wellness, art, and culinary journeys cater to mindful travelers seeking more than just a getaway.

For Rosamund Pike, Patina Maldives isn’t just a destination—it’s a refuge. Her third visit to the resort speaks volumes of its allure, where moments of stillness are as treasured as moments of adventure. As she puts it, it’s “a heaven on your own terms.”

Whether you’re looking to reconnect with nature, indulge in marine adventures, or simply float into a state of bliss, Rosamund’s Maldivian escape is all the inspiration you need.

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Entertainment

Alex Turnbull: Music, film, culture at Patina Maldives

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Some encounters change us. Some stories stay with us long after the credits roll, long after the music fades, long after we leave the space where it all happened. This is one of those weekends.

For three days, Patina Maldives becomes a crossroads of music, film, and artistic legacy—woven together by the hands of Alex Turnbull, a man who has spent his life standing at the very heart of underground culture.

A DJ, drummer, filmmaker, and guardian of the avant-garde, Turnbull has lived at the pulse point of transformation. As a founding member of 23 Skidoo, he shaped the sounds that shaped generations. As a producer and remixer, he worked with icons like Sade, Seal, and Neneh Cherry, turning their music into something new, something unexpected, something entirely his own. As a founding member of the International Stüssy Tribe, he helped define the intersection of fashion, music, and rebellion.

And now, here he is. On an island where the tides move with a rhythm of their own, bringing us something rare—something impossible to categorise but impossible to forget.

A DJ set beneath the Maldivian stars, where the past and present fold into each other, where basslines meet the night air, and where we all just for a moment, lose ourselves.

A Stüssy archive pop-up, offering a glimpse into a world where fashion was once a revolution.

A screening of Kim Lim: The Space Between, a film about art, identity, and the spaces that exist between the two. This is Turnbull’s most personal project yet, a tribute to his mother, to creativity, to the quiet power of reinvention.

For three nights, the lines between artist and audience, past and future, reality and dream will blur. Because this is what culture does. It moves. It connects. It asks us to pay attention.

And so we will.

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Culture

Cruise liner makes first stop at HDh. Makunudhoo

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A cruise liner docked at HDh. Makunudhoo for the first time Monday, marking a new tourism milestone for the island. Passengers from the MS Hebridean Sky were welcomed by the island’s residents with cultural displays reflecting Maldivian heritage.

According to the Makunudhoo Island Council, 94 tourists disembarked from the vessel. The islanders gathered at the harbour in traditional attire to greet them.

As part of the visit, the tourists were divided into groups, each guided by local residents dressed in traditional clothing. They were taken on a tour of the island, visiting historical and significant sites. A festival was also held at the harbour, where islanders demonstrated traditional crafts, sports, and dances. A marketplace was set up as part of the event, where visitors could purchase local products.

The tourists, who arrived in the morning, departed at 1pm. Before leaving, they donated sports equipment to the island’s school.

“They were pleased with the welcome and the opportunity to explore the island,” said Auzam Adam, President of the Makunudhoo Council.

The MS Hebridean Sky visited Makunudhoo after stops at islands in Addu and Alif Alif Atoll. The vessel is now en route to another country.

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