News
The Third Annual Maldives Whale Shark Festival Returns to South Ari Atoll
Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme [MWSRP] is collaborating with Maldivian Artists to celebrate the whale shark in the Maldives third annual Whale Shark Festival.
Hosted on the beautiful local island of Dhidhoo, this year’s Festival will be the culmination of months of creative workshops and collaboration in which community members work together to create incredible art work representing their island culture and celebrating the marine diversity of South Ari atoll and it’s Marine Protected Area (the S.A.MPA).
This unique Festival, driven by national and international collaborations between dynamic Maldivian artists, marine biologists, and scientific researchers, places island communities at the forefront of creative decision making. Promoting intergenerational exchange, the Festival provides vital opportunities to celebrate both the rich cultural heritage of the atoll and it’s internationally renowned marine environment.
Building on the success of last year’s festival, this year the festival will be bigger and bolder than ever before. The Festival will take advantage of its new position in the Maldives national calendar on the weekend of International Whale Shark Day, beginning with a ‘ScienceFEST’ mini-conference on Friday 28th August for teachers, community leaders and marine biologists before the whole community travels to the Dhidhoo for the main event on Saturday 29th August.
Dhidhoo, a small island with a big personality will host the 2015 event in style, festooned with vibrant costumes, banners, flags and puppets, it will host hundreds of school children and community members from across the atoll.
Festival Co-Director Kareen Adam and Story-Telling artist Fazail Lutfi will be working again with each participating island to share and celebrate the unique stories of each island’s community, weaving traditional Maldivian dance and music with contemporary art work to entertain and inform a diverse audience of Island residents, Maldivian creatives, scientists, and international visitors.
Under the guidance of professional artists like Nadee Rachey each participating island will create a large scale kinetic whale shark sculpture from recycled materials for the procession to be accompanied by endangered reef fish inspired art work and costumes. From the Peacock mantis shrimp to the noduled sea star (Fas Ingili), this is an opportunity for artists and marine biologists to design a dynamic learning opportunity, full of independent investigation and discovery, ensuring that conservation and awareness underpin the whole of the Festival Programme.
For the young Maldivian artists involved, this event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase and share their skills, Ms Rachey said of last year; ”It is hard to explain it in words how much fun I had working on the festival last year. Working with the local community and collaborating with so many different artists was a really inspiring and rewarding experience”.
Festival Co-Directors Kareen Adam and Chloe Osborne, are designing a series of multidisciplinary art workshopsfor participating islands. Ms Osborne enthused that ‘the workshops and Festival will build on the incredible collaborations and partnership work that we witnessed in the build up to last years festival. The creative ideas and technical skills on every island we worked with far surpassed our expectations – we have had to work hard to raise the bar for this year’s festival!’ Co-director Ms Adam added, ‘I’m feeling excited to see the children and adults from seven islands come together with colourful props and costumes to celebrate their unique environment and whale sharks”.
The event hopes to attract festival goers from across the atoll, Male and beyond as a yearly opportunity to celebrate the craftsmanship and creativity of the island communities and to celebrate the area’s unique role in International whale shark ecology.
The 2015 festival has been created with support from Artist Sponsor LUX* Maldives, Festival Partners Allied Insurance, Visit Maldives, Mirihi Resort, Carpe Diem and Flyme, Hydration Partner 100Plus, Print Partner Novelty Print, Online Partner Maldives.com, Design Partner Emau Saleem and Audio-Visual partner DOAV, along with the support of Festival Friends; Friend of the Sea, Voyages Maldives, We Care Maldives, LaMER and Cyprea Pvt Ltd.
MWSRP programme coordinator Ibrahim Shameel concluded, “for me the Festival has proved it can bring people together from all walks of life to celebrate and take creative inspiration from the whale shark and our marine environment. Last year it was made spectacularly clear how much this opportunity meant to the community of South Ari, and the MWSRP are hugely excited to see the scale and reach of this event grow year on year”.
Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon has been honoured with the HolidayCheck Gold Award 2026 for the second consecutive year, reaffirming its continued popularity among global travellers. The Gold Award is presented exclusively to accommodations that have won a HolidayCheck Award at least five times since 2019 and is reserved for only the 10 most popular hotels within each region.
Located in the North Ari Atoll, Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon is a resort widely recognised for its exceptional house reef and vibrant marine ecosystem. The island offers direct access to over 50 dive sites, alongside 24-hour diving opportunities, making it a sought-after destination for enthusiasts and seasoned divers alike. Its thriving reef has also earned international recognition from Lonely Planet as a premier diving destination, celebrated for having one of the best house reefs in the Maldives.
Accessible via a scenic 25-minute seaplane journey or a 90-minute speedboat ride from Malé, the resort combines effortless connectivity with an immersive island experience. Beyond diving, Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon is equally valued for its welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere, offering guests the opportunity to experience both relaxation and adventure within a compact and naturally rich island setting.
Commenting on the achievement, Sanjeeva Perera, Area General Manager for Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives, stated “Receiving the HolidayCheck Gold Award 2026 for the second consecutive year is a significant milestone for Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon. This recognition speaks to the consistent dedication of our team and the continued support of our guests. Maintaining strong recommendation rates over several years is built on attentive service, environmental responsibility, and delivering memorable experiences centred around our house reef and diving offerings.”
To discover award-winning diving, vibrant marine life, and an island stay shaped by consistent guest acclaim, make your booking today and take advantage of the resort’s exclusive Book Direct Summer offer, which includes complimentary speedboat transfers for stays until 31st October 2026.
Reethi Faru Resort has been honoured with the HolidayCheck Award 2026, a recognition presented to hotels that consistently earn high levels of guest satisfaction and positive feedback.
HolidayCheck is regarded as a leading global platform for verified guest reviews, and the award reflects sustained performance based on authentic traveller experiences. The recognition highlights the resort’s continued focus on service standards and the delivery of consistent guest experiences.
In a statement, the resort expressed appreciation to its guests for their support and favourable reviews, noting that the award is a direct reflection of guest trust. The management also acknowledged the contribution of its team members, whose efforts underpin the resort’s day-to-day operations and overall guest journey.
The HolidayCheck Award 2026 underscores Reethi Faru Resort’s ongoing commitment to hospitality standards and guest satisfaction within the Maldives tourism sector.
Awards
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands secures Forbes Five-Star rating for fourth consecutive year
Forbes Travel Guide (“FTG”), the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and cruise ships, has announced its 2026 Star Awards. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands earned a new Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star award and is showcased with other honourees on ForbesTravelGuide.com.
In addition to this distinguished recognition, The Ritz-Carlton Spa and Summer Pavilion each received Four-Star honours, while IWAU earned a Recommended rating, further underscoring the resort’s commitment to excellence across hospitality, wellness and culinary experiences.
Located in the Fari Islands of the North Malé Atoll and designed by Kerry Hill Architects, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is defined by its iconic spherical architecture, inspired by the circular forms of the turquoise lagoon and the movement of ocean breezes. Nestled along white-sand beach coves and set above vibrant azure waters, the resort’s luxury villas seamlessly blend island living with modern design. Each villa features panoramic water views, an infinity pool, a spacious sundeck, and the dedicated attention of an Aris Meeha, island butler. A dynamic culinary scene unfolds across seven restaurants and bars, located on the resort’s dedicated Culinary Island and at Fari Marina Village. Guests may also enjoy a range of curated recreational experiences or unwind at The Ritz- Carlton Spa, which exclusively features Bamford organic products.
“We are deeply honoured to receive this prestigious, globally recognised accolade and to be named a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Hotel for the fourth consecutive year,” said Oscar Postma, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands. “This achievement truly belongs to our Ladies and Gentlemen, whose artistry, dedication and quiet mastery bring our island to life each and every day. Since opening in June 2021, their commitment to refined, thoughtful hospitality has defined our journey. Together, they continue to shape meaningful experiences for our guests, guided by our promise to Embrace the Circle of Island Life and deliver service that is both personal and enduring.”
Forbes Travel Guide’s highly anticipated 68th annual Star Awards list covers 100 countries.
“Forbes Travel Guide’s Star Award winners exemplify excellence in hospitality,” said Amanda Frasier, President of Standards & Ratings for Forbes Travel Guide. “This year’s list reflects the changing landscape of luxury with properties setting the standard for authentic experiences while offering unparalleled amenities, enhanced well-being and delivering unforgettable moments. We are thrilled to recognise their dedication to creating truly world-class travel options for today’s discerning guest.”
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