JOALI BEING, the transformative well-living island in the Maldives, has announced its recognition in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler US Readers’ Choice Awards 2026, securing No. 8 in the Best Spa Resorts in the US & Around the World category.

Now in its 39th year, the annual Readers’ Choice Awards celebrate excellence in global travel, recognising the world’s most exceptional hotels, resorts, spas, destinations and travel experiences. This year, Condé Nast Traveler received more than 798,867 survey responses from readers across the United States, reflecting the experiences and preferences of discerning travellers worldwide.

Rooted in the philosophy of the Joy of Well-Living, JOALI BEING offers a transformative approach to holistic well-living, guided by its Four Pillars of Mind, Skin, Microbiome and Energy. Set amidst the natural beauty of Raa Atoll in the Maldives, the island brings together personalised well-living journeys, expert-led experiences, biophilic design and immersive nature-inspired rituals, inviting guests to reconnect with themselves and discover a renewed sense of balance.

Graeme Freeman, General Manager of JOALI BEING, commented: “We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition from the readers of Condé Nast Traveler. At JOALI BEING, we believe that well-living is a deeply personal journey, and our purpose has always been to create experiences that inspire meaningful, lasting change. This honour is a testament to the dedication of our team and the trust our guests place in us.”

This latest accolade further strengthens JOALI BEING’s position as a leading destination for transformative well-living, reflecting a continued commitment to thoughtful luxury, innovation and meaningful guest experiences.

A stay at JOALI BEING is a transformative journey where guests return home feeling lighter, happier and more energised.

Villas start from USD 2,442 per night for two guests sharing an Ocean Pool Villa on a B&B basis. For bookings and further information, please contact reservations.being@joali.com.

JA Manafaru, the private Maldivian island resort located in Haa Alifu Atoll, has earned a place in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide hotel selection, bringing international recognition to the island retreat of Dubai-born JA Resorts & Hotels. On this island in the northern Maldives, hospitality takes its character from the destination: Maldivian flavours served among the branches of a living banyan tree, days spent exploring the surrounding waters, and a team whose personal welcome brings guests into island life.

Independently selected by MICHELIN Guide inspectors for its global hotel collection, JA Manafaru offers an experience shaped around privacy, space, and attentive service. Its 84 villas and residences with private pools sit alongside distinctive dining venues, extensive leisure facilities, and a secluded spa sanctuary, with new residences and treetop restaurant Kuriadding fresh dimensions to the stay. The inclusion follows the resort’s Forbes Travel Guide Recommended recognition in the 2026 Star Awards, securing a second notable international acknowledgement this year.

Ralph Porciani, Chief Executive Officer, JA Resorts & Hotels, commented: “JA Manafaru’s selection in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide is a proud achievement for our entire group. Following its Forbes Travel Guide Recommended recognition earlier this year, it is a meaningful acknowledgement of the quality and consistency our island team delivers. Our story began in Dubai in 1981, and seeing that hospitality recognised internationally is particularly special. We continue to invest in our destinations, but it is the care of our people, their knowledge of the island, and the personal experiences they create that give JA Manafaru its character.”

The resort’s new residences expand its appeal for families and groups. Among the highlights is the Three Bedroom Royal Beach Residence, spanning 5,800 square metres across two levels. With two private pools, a dedicated spa pavilion featuring steam and sauna facilities, private cabanas, generous living areas, and personal butler service, it offers an expansive retreat for multigenerational holidays and special celebrations.

Food and a sense of place come together at Kuri, an intimate treetop restaurant within the canopy of a living banyan tree. Meaning “treetop” in Dhivehi, Kuri welcomes up to four guests for a five-course tasting menu led by Executive Chef Moosa Nazeeh. Its 0km philosophy draws on ingredients sourced from the surrounding atoll, including reef fish, coconut, pandan and screwpine, interpreting traditional Maldivian flavours through a contemporary lens. Handcrafted ceramics from JA Manafaru’s own on-island clay studio complete the setting.

Elsewhere, guests can enjoy wine-paired dinners at The Cellar, carved into volcanic rock beneath the island, beachfront dining at Ocean Grill, and Japanese cuisine at White Orchid. Maldivian cooking classes offer a hands-on introduction to the destination’s culinary traditions.

Across the island, experiences balance discovery with time to slow down. Snorkelling, diving and excursions to nearby islands reveal the surrounding marine environment, while kayaking, paddleboarding, and castaway island picnics offer different ways to enjoy the ocean. Guided nature trails introduce guests to the island’s landscape, complementing days spent on the water.

Wellbeing is woven into the stay through treatments and rituals at Calm Spa Sanctuary, nestled within tropical greenery, alongside yoga and fitness sessions. Tennis, cycling, and family activities complete an offering that allows guests to shape their holiday around their own interests, whether seeking adventure, rest or time together.

Roberto Garrone, General Manager, JA Manafaru, added, “This inclusion is a recognition of what the team at JA Manafaru lives every day. Our island offers a rare combination of privacy, natural beauty, and space, but it is the people who bring the experience to life. To see the resort included in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide hotel selection is a significant moment for our team and a wonderful reflection of the destination we are proud to call home.”

For JA Resorts & Hotels, the recognition brings international attention to a hospitality legacy established in the UAE more than four decades ago. At JA Manafaru, that legacy finds its own island expression through warm service, Maldivian culture, and experiences rooted in the destination.

For more information and bookings, visit the resort’s official website.

The most memorable stays leave a feeling that endures beyond the journey home. At The Nautilus Maldives, it is the ease of being understood, the warmth of a familiar welcome and the freedom to spend each day entirely as you please. This personal connection has earned the island renewed recognition in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, with the magazine’s readers placing The Nautilus sixth among the best resorts in the Indian Ocean.

Set within Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Nautilus is an intimate collection of 26 beach and ocean houses and residences. Its bohemian spirit finds expression in inviting spaces, thoughtful details and a philosophy that gives guests room to be themselves. A dedicated House Master comes to understand each guest’s preferences, allowing the experience to evolve naturally throughout their stay.

“This recognition is particularly meaningful because it comes from the people who have experienced The Nautilus for themselves,” says Philippe Cavory, General Manager of The Nautilus Maldives. “We want every guest to feel at home here, with the freedom to express their wishes and the confidence that we will listen. Being chosen by Condé Nast Traveller’s readers is a wonderful tribute to the relationships our team builds and the care they bring to island life each day.”

The accolade joins a significant year of recognition for The Nautilus, which was also awarded Two MICHELIN Keys and included in Condé Nast Traveler’s The Gold List 2026. Together, these honours celebrate the character of the island and the dedication of the people who make each stay personal.

The annual Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards recognise the destinations and travel experiences most cherished by the magazine’s readers. For The Nautilus, this latest honour carries a special significance: a place in the memories of those who have made the island their own.

To book your stay, visit the resort’s website.