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The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands celebrates 2023 ocean conservation highlights

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Forming part of the coveted Fari Islands’ lifestyle concept, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands has been championing environmental education since its opening in 2021. A destination that’s fast become an iconic addition to the Indian Ocean, is also home to a hub of innovation when it comes to environmental conservation. The resort steps lightly in to 2024 celebrating its continued dedication to the protection of our natural world. 

‘Eye in the Sky’ Drone Technology 

Spearheaded by resort naturalists and a progressive research community, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands’ sophisticated ocean plastics’ monitoring program works to conserve one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems with the use of drones. In partnership with British PhD researcher Melissa Schiele, drone technology has been developed and deployed in and around the atoll to better understand the location and movement of ocean plastics, including discarded fishing nets (ghost nets). With immediate impact resort teams are able to locate and remove otherwise hard to find debris identified by drones. 

In 2023 the resort’s naturalist team and dive network removed 19 ghost nets with an estimated weight of 1100kg. These ghost nets travel in to the east Indian Ocean via strong ocean winds and currents experienced in the region from mid-December. In 2023, the resort successfully rescued five olive ridley sea turtles found entangled in abandoned nets. Two turtles were released immediately, with three rehabilitated by the Olive Ridley Project’s veterinary team at the Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in Baa Atoll, before a successful reintroduction to the ocean.  A rehabilitated turtle named ‘Muraka’, released on the 16th of August 2023, was fitted with a GPS tracking device to allow guests and followers to trace her journey.

Since opening, the resort has achieved 751 drone flights aiding critical research in to plastic aggregation, location of ghost nets and ongoing monitoring of wildlife. In a first-of-its-kind image collection and data processing project, impressive data from the drone initiative was drawn for collaborative use to inform, educate and drive positive change long-term. Over 21 ocean species were observed in 2023, from the Ornate Eagle Ray, Black Tip Reef Shark to Melon-Headed Whale.*

Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment program

Home to the Maldives’ first Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment program, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands continues to collaborate with the world-renowned oceanographic explorer and environmentalist to provide guest experiences with preservation of the planet at its core. In 2023 the program planted 40 coral frames as part of its coral regeneration initiative, using coral frags from the Pocillapora (Cauliflower corals) and the Acropora (Table coral).  25 of these abundant nursery frames, and successful new habitats for ocean life, can be seen by guests in the shallow waters of the resort’s welcome jetty on arrival.

The resort will welcome Jean-Michel Cousteau in 2024 from the 8th to 18th April. An inspired educational residency will include exclusive guest experiences and Q&As with the legendary explorer.

Community Footprints

As part of its Community Footprints’ programming, and with focus on environmental awareness for the planet’s future generations, the resort’s relationships with local schools enable visits with its naturalist teams to share research and educate. In 2023 five educational excursions to local islands took place including schools in Dhiffushi and Gaafaru.  The visits took a deep dive in to ocean conservation, from the environmental impact of ocean plastics, insights from the resort community’s drone research and shared observations of wildlife in the surrounding atoll.  Presentations of ground-breaking research from the resort’s ‘Visiting Heroes’ programme included the work of renowned shark scientist Gibbs Kuguru and his conservation work tagging Blacktip Reef Sharks.

Closer to home, the resort was proud to engage in ten global environmental dates. Educational and inspired activities worked to raise awareness surrounding key calendar dates including; World Shark Day, World Dolphin Day, Ocean Clean Up Day, and Earth Day. A continuation of its Community Footprints programming, 11 beach clean-ups invited guests to support ocean debris collection on resort shores and the local islands of Dhiffushi and Gaafaru.  

Creating a Sustainable Environment for the Future 

The resort continues to grow its commitment to sustainable practices in its day-to-day operations, from increasing its production of renewable energy via its solar power infrastructure, purification of still and sparkling drinking water at its dedicated plant, treating greywater for landscaping, and a robust composting programme for daily food waste.

With a considered approach to luxury living, guests can expect to use reusable glass water bottles, bamboo-based personal consumables, refillable jars of amenities, and bamboo and stainless-steel straws. Organic Bamford amenities, with shared sensibilities of living consciously and in harmony with nature, are replenished on-site, while the resort’s desalination plant reduces the amount of plastic imported into the country. 

For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com/Maldives and for real-time updates follow the resort on Facebook and Instagram.

Entertainment

Silent DJ brings music and movement to Madifushi Private Island

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Madifushi Private Island has introduced a new Silent DJ experience, inviting guests to enjoy an evening of music, movement and connection in a way that remains true to the resort’s serene island character.

Set within the resort’s dedicated Silent DJ and Karaoke Lounge, the experience gives each guest a wireless headset and the freedom to choose between multiple music channels. Guests can switch channels whenever they wish, dance to their own soundtrack or tune into the same channel and share the beat with family and friends.

With the music delivered directly through individual headsets, there is no need for amplified DJ sound to fill the surrounding area. The concept therefore allows participating guests to immerse themselves in the energy of the evening while helping to minimize ambient noise and preserve the calm enjoyed by others across the island.

“Madifushi Private Island is known as the Island of Serene Wonders, and every new experience we introduce should complement that promise. Silent DJ gives our guests the freedom to celebrate, dance and enjoy music together while respecting the tranquility that makes the island so special. It is lively on the inside, peaceful on the outside, and unmistakably signature to Madifushi Private Island,” said Mohamed Hilmy, General Manager, Madifushi Private Island.

The room also offers a dedicated Karaoke experience. Using wireless microphones and a curated song library, guests can perform solo, sing together as a group or combine Karaoke with Silent DJ for a more varied private event.

The introduction of Silent DJ reflects Madifushi Private Island’s wider approach to thoughtful luxury: creating memorable experiences that feel personal and joyful while remaining sensitive to the setting. It also offers an inventive response to noise disturbance, showing that entertainment and tranquillity can comfortably coexist when an experience is designed with intention.

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COMO Resorts Maldives brings marine experts, artists and wellness specialists to its islands

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For the remainder of 2026, COMO Maalifushi and COMO Cocoa Island will offer an inspiring calendar of COMO Journeys and visiting practitioner residencies, bringing together leading experts, artists and wellness specialists from around the world.

Rooted in ocean stewardship, artistic expression and holistic wellbeing, each programme is thoughtfully crafted to reflect the distinctive character of its island setting. Through immersive experiences and expert-led encounters, guests are invited to discover the Maldives in new ways, deepening their appreciation of the natural world while cultivating creativity, balance and personal renewal.

At COMO Maalifushi, COMO Journey with Guardians of the Reef will take place from October 20th to November 2nd 2026, with Sharks4Kids. Led by marine biologist Jillian Morris and Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Duncan Brake, the family-focused programme explores the world of sharks through guided reef adventures, marine education, citizen science and underwater storytelling.

The resort will also feature two visiting practitioners, the first, “Holistic Reset for Body and Mind” will take place from September 21st to October 5th 2026, and will include personalised treatments by physiotherapist and osteopath Martina Wegscheider. These treatments will combine osteopathy, craniosacral therapy, energy alignment, and mindful movement.

The second residency, “Balance and Harmony” is scheduled from December 1st to January 10th, 2027. Wellness practitioner Kimberly Rose Kneier will lead this program, which will integrate various holistic practices, including acupuncture, Qi Gong, breathwork, and craniosacral therapy.

At COMO Cocoa Island, COMO Journey with Ocean Culture Life takes place from October 19th to October 31st 2026. This event will be led by award-winning photographer Matt Porteous and environmental advocate Tamsin Raine, who are the founders of Ocean Life Culture. The residency will combine photography, ocean film, storytelling, and conservation efforts. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in photography workshops, youth sessions, marine capture experiences, film nights, and discussions that explore the connection between people and the sea.

The island will host “The Art of Japanese Healing”, featuring practitioner Yuki Nishikubo from November 16th to December 27th 2026. With over 25 years of experience, Nishikubo will provide personalised Japanese acupuncture and Shiatsu treatments to promote relaxation, balance, and overall well-being.

The final event of this year’s creative programme is “From Sea to Self”, a COMO Journey featuring acclaimed artist and Paralympian Gregory Burns, taking place from December 8th to December 27th 2026. Through open studios, intimate conversations and hands-on workshops, Burns will explore the relationship between art, nature and personal transformation. The programme will culminate in an exhibition showcasing the works created during his residency.

“Meaningful travel is about creating experiences that stay with you long after you leave. Through our COMO Journeys and residencies of visiting practitioners, we hope to give guests a deeper connection to the Maldives, whether through the ocean, creativity, conservation or wellbeing, while celebrating the people and ideas that make each experience unique,” says Peter Nilsson, Managing Director of COMO Resorts, Maldives.

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Theatre, dining and creativity shape festive season at JOALI Maldives

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JOALI Maldives, the Maldives’ first art-immersive resort, has announced its 2026 festive theme, Life is a Theatre – The Island Takes the Stage. Inspired by the grandeur, artistry and enchantment of historic theatres, the island will transform into a living stage for a season shaped by spectacle, emotion and creative living.

From 20 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, each corner of the island will reveal a new scene: candlelit gatherings and theatrical feasts, celebrated visiting experts, hands-on creativity, marine conservation, wellbeing rituals and joyful adventures for every generation. Guided by JOALI Maldives’s philosophy of the Joy of Creative Living, the programme invites guests to step beyond the everyday and become part of an unfolding festive story beneath the Maldivian sky.

The opening acts: treasured festive traditions

The season begins with the island’s first illumination at the Christmas Tree Lighting, followed by the opening of the Gingerbread House and Santa’s much-anticipated arrival. These cherished traditions lead into a series of signature celebrations, each interpreted through the language of theatre and brought to life with JOALI Maldives’s distinctive sense of artistry and togetherness.

Three gala celebrations take centre stage

Christmas Eve Gala Dinner | 24 December. Inspired by the splendour of grand European theatres, Christmas Eve unfolds as an opulent celebration of exquisite cuisine, live performance and heartfelt connection.

New Year’s Eve Gala | 31 December. The year reaches its cinematic finale through a film-noir-inspired evening of mystery, glamour and allure. Dramatic monochromes and glimmers of gold set the scene for exceptional dining, live entertainment, fireworks and a thrilling countdown to midnight.

Orthodox Christmas Gala | 6 January. Regal traditions inspire an elegant island gathering featuring global flavours and a warm, luminous setting in which guests can come together and cherish the spirit of Orthodox Christmas.

World-class expertise, from the court to restorative touch

Former World No. 1 and Grand Slam champion Ana Ivanović will host exclusive master tennis classes on select days, helping guests refine technique, agility and confidence while experiencing the precision and joy of world-class tennis.

Visiting practitioner Zoa Aviño Hernandez will guide guests through deeply restorative therapies informed by healing traditions from Bali, Thailand and Mexico. From Reiki and reflexology to Kobido, each treatment brings intuitive care and refined technique together to release tension, restore balance and support freedom of movement.

A culinary programme made for the spotlight

Dining becomes a performance of its own through intimate chef-led journeys and generous family-style feasts. Seasonal highlights include Sparkle O’Clock, Mediterranean Dream, The Pasta Performance and Once Upon a Sake, inviting guests to discover new tastes while sharing familiar favourites.

Throughout the stay, themed cocktail invitations will appear across the island, setting the scene for speakeasy evenings, jazz gatherings, island sundowners and other spirited moments designed to surprise and delight.

Island creations with purpose

At the Ceramics Studio, guests can work with JOALI Maldives’s Resident Artist to shape raw clay into a personal artwork inspired by their time on the island. The festive programme also continues the resort’s Christmas Corals tradition, inviting guests to add coral fragments to a Christmas tree-shaped frame and participate in JOALI Maldives’ ongoing commitment to protecting and restoring the Maldivian marine ecosystem.

Movement, wellbeing and the natural theatre of the ocean

Beyond the headline celebrations, guests can find their own island rhythm through padel, holistic treatments at JOALI BEING Cure and an extensive collection of ocean adventures. Snorkelling, private marine excursions and exhilarating experiences above and across the lagoon reveal the natural beauty surrounding Muravandhoo Island.

The Sunset Dolphin Cruise presents the ocean as nature’s theatre, as playful dolphins flip, spin and glide beneath the glow of the setting sun. Families can also join spirited challenges designed around agility, memory, teamwork and creativity, or form a team for Santa’s Football League and compete in a joyful series of holiday matches.

A festive world for younger guests

Muramas Kids Club will host a daily programme of festive crafts, games, parties, sports and colourful adventures centred on four themes: Create, Play, Discover and Move. Young explorers will also meet Pico the Heron, Mermie the Mermaid and other island friends as they connect with nature, express their creativity and celebrate together.

Guests planning a festive escape can enjoy a selection of exclusive benefits for stays from 21 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. Guests staying seven nights or more in any Overwater category will receive 5% off the applicable room rates, alongside an Early Bird saving of 10% for bookings confirmed 120 days prior to arrival, or 5% for bookings confirmed 60 days prior to arrival.

Additional benefits include complimentary return seaplane transfers for children aged 0–6 years on stays of seven nights or more. For stays of 12 nights or more, complimentary return seaplane transfers are extended to two adults and children aged 0–6 years.

The offer is available to book until 10 October 2026. A minimum stay of seven nights applies to all Beach categories, while five nights applies to all Overwater categories.

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