Sun-kissed sanctuaries

From breathtaking new resort openings and significant refurbishments transforming iconic properties, to resorts clinching 'best luxury villa' awards and exciting wellness festivals, these sun-kissed sanctuaries are redefining opulent escapes across the Indian Ocean.

Agon capital announces resort

Agon Capital, the investment firm known for its standout lifestyle ventures, has announced the development of Villivaru Island Resort, its most ambitious hospitality project to date. In partnership with Janah International Holding (JIH), Agon has formed Villivaru Holdings to bring this private island resort to life in the Maldives' South Malé Atoll. Scheduled to open in early 2027, Villivaru will redefine barefoot luxury in the Indian Ocean.

Located just 30 minutes by speedboat from Malé’s Velana International Airport, the resort will feature 61 design-forward villas and 11 ultra-luxurious private island estates, each blending bold architecture with ecological sensitivity. The estates will include private arrival pavilions, spas, and sunset bars, offering unparalleled privacy and immersive experiences.

Set against white sand beaches and vibrant coral reefs, Villivaru promises exceptional seclusion and curated luxury. The resort will host ten culinary venues, including four signature restaurants and two globally renowned dining brands, tailored for gourmet travellers.

Backed by Agon Capital’s proven expertise from UAE ventures like Gitano and The Coterie, Villivaru positions the firm at the forefront of global luxury hospitality. The project highlights Agon’s commitment to emotional, cultural, and architectural excellence, marking a significant step in shaping the future of high-end island travel.

Barceló opens second Maldives hotel

Barceló Hotel Group has expanded its international footprint with the opening of Barceló Nasandhura Malé, the first five-star hotel in Malé, capital of the Maldives. Strategically located opposite the Henveiru Ferry Terminal and just 10 minutes from Velana International Airport, the hotel offers luxurious urban accommodation with panoramic ocean views in one of the world’s most coveted travel destinations.

The new property features 136 elegant rooms and 116 serviced apartments, blending comfort and design in a prime seafront setting. Guests can enjoy five distinct culinary venues, including a rooftop lounge, a Chinese specialty restaurant, and Malé’s only oceanfront pool with a bar. Wellness is a key focus, with a full-service spa, six treatment rooms, and a sea-view fitness centre.

Designed to serve both leisure and business travellers, Barceló Nasandhura Malé includes over 1,000 m² of MICE facilities, ideal for corporate events, exhibitions, and conventions. This opening marks Barceló’s second property in the Maldives, following the launch of Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives, a luxury villa resort in South Ari Atoll.

Dusit opens first all-inclusive resort in Maldives

Dusit Hotels and Resorts, the hotel arm of Dusit International, debuted its first all-inclusive lifestyle resort in the Maldives with the soft opening of dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives on July 27, 2025. Located just seven minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, this marks Dusit’s second property in the Maldives, complementing the luxury Dusit Thani Maldives.

Set on a pristine natural island fringed by a lagoon and coral reefs, the resort offers exceptional access to marine life and world-class dive sites. Designed for modern, experience-driven travellers, the resort features 127 villas across seven categories, including beachfront and overwater options, most with plunge pools, open-air decks, and seamless indoor-outdoor living.

dusitD2 Feydhoo introduces a contemporary take on all-inclusive hospitality, offering à la carte dining at five venues, unlimited premium beverages, daily entertainment, and generous resort credits for spa treatments, excursions, and more. Guests can enjoy beach yoga, rooftop cocktails, floating breakfasts, snorkelling, and live DJ sets.

For corporate events, the resort includes a full-service conference facility for up to 240 guests. A special soft opening package includes complimentary speedboat transfers, villa upgrades, floating breakfast, 24-hour check-in/out, and Dusit Gold member benefits. The grand opening is scheduled for Q4 2025.

Fisherman’s Cove undergoes renovation

Fisherman’s Cove Resort, the Seychelles’ first and oldest hotel, has temporarily closed on May 31, 2025, for an extensive two-year renovation. Located on the northwestern coast of Mahé Island along Beau Vallon Bay, the resort is a historic landmark, first opened as a guesthouse in 1943 and transformed into a resort following the launch of Seychelles International Airport in 1972.

Now part of STORY Hospitality’s portfolio, the beloved four-star property is set to be elevated into a five-star resort, blending its rich Creole heritage with a fresh, contemporary vision. The transformation will focus on upgrading accommodations, enhancing guest amenities, and introducing new lifestyle features, while maintaining the property’s authentic island character and world-class oceanfront setting.

Perched on a prime stretch of beachfront, the resort is celebrated for its sweeping views, warm hospitality, and island spirit. The renovation will preserve its charm while introducing modern design elements that align with STORY Hospitality’s commitment to luxury and guest experience.

Fisherman’s Cove aims to emerge as a benchmark destination within the STORY Hotels & Resorts brand, offering a refined escape for today’s discerning traveller. The team remains committed to honouring the legacy of this iconic property and its deep connection with the Seychellois community.

Niyama unveils transformation

Niyama Private Islands Maldives has proudly revealed its "THIS IS NIYAMA" transformation, marking a new chapter for the resort. The comprehensive refurbishment includes fully updated villas and facilities, aiming for a heightened sense of luxury and offering new experiences across the resort's twin islands, Play and Chill.

The resort's accommodations now feature a lightened colour palette, all-new furnishings, high-design comfort and sleek technology. Interiors have been expanded to provide more space for relaxation and reconnection. Each villa is designed to blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open directly onto the beach or a private sundeck and outdoor bathing areas.

Niyama's culinary offerings have been re-imagined: the redesigned and relandscaped Nest, the resort’s avant-garde treetop restaurant now offers a refined experience with teppanyaki and Southeast Asian flavours. Located six metres below the ocean's surface, Subsix has unveiled the world's first underwater Nikkei tasting experience. Beachfront venue Dune offers a new menu featuring the vibrant flavours of the Maldives, and cocktails and shisha available until sunset. Situated on the western tip of Play island, the expanded Surf Shack provides a lively hideaway where guests can enjoy the roar of the surf, DJ beats, and a vibrant social atmosphere.

Soul Festival at Soneva Fushi

Returning for its third edition, SOUL Festival 2025 will take place from October 9–13, 2025 at Soneva Fushi, located in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This five-day retreat blends barefoot luxury with deep wellness, gathering global thought leaders, healers, and seekers in an immersive celebration of wellbeing, healing, and human connection.

The 2025 line-up features Sanctum founders Luuk Melisse and Gabriel Olszewski, biohacker Tim Gray, Ground Wellbeing founder Peigín Crowley, Bodyism CEO Nathalie Schyllert, sound healer Roses Gabor, dermatologist Dr. Timm Golüke, Fluidform Pilates’ Kirsten King, and more. Guests can expect sunrise movement rituals, oceanfront Pilates, breathwork, somatic therapy, panel talks on longevity, emotional health, trauma healing, and immersive sound journeys under the stars.

Hosted at Soneva Fushi, the world’s top beach resort, the experience includes luxurious villas set in jungle clearings or directly on the sand, organic wellness cuisine, and signature treatments at Soneva Soul.

OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI bags crown

THE OZEN COLLECTION’s OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI has once again been crowned 'Maldives' Leading Luxury Hotel Villa' at the prestigious 2025 World Travel Awards. This marks the third consecutive year the resort has received the accolade, solidifying its position as the Indian Ocean's most exceptional villa experience.

The jewel in the resort's crown, the Royal RESERVE, stretches across an expansive 3,000 square metres and boasts a private beach that aims to redefine ultra-luxury in the Maldives. This multi-award-winning villa features a sprawling private pool, a personal spa treatment room complete with dedicated therapists, and lavish living spaces adorned with handcrafted craftsmanship.

Guests staying at the Royal RESERVE enjoy exclusive privileges, including 24-hour private butler service, a personal chef to cater to every culinary whim at the private restaurant within the compound, and bespoke beverages from the villa's own bar.

Its pièce de résistance is direct lagoon access and panoramic Indian Ocean views, offering complete seclusion enhanced by the resort's signature 'RESERVE Experience,' where every desire is anticipated and fulfilled with discreet precision. This latest honour reaffirms the resort's unparalleled standing in luxury hospitality, building on its remarkable debut year when it swept multiple categories, including 'World’s Leading Honeymoon Resort,' followed by 'Indian Ocean's Leading Luxury Villa.'

The property has also been nominated at the World Spa Awards 2025 as 'Maldives' Best Wellness Retreat' for its ELE|NA Elements of Nature Spa.

 

Sri Lankan treat: Aarunya’s nature-inspired luxury 

Set within Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands overlooking the UNESCO-listed Knuckles Mountain Range, Aarunya Nature Resort unveils Sol Sanctuary, a temple-inspired, star-aligned villa blending architecture, wellness, and ecology.

Located on a private 10-acre estate, Sol Sanctuary is a 165 sqm, two-bedroom retreat featuring domed stone architecture, a crescent moon-shaped plunge pool, stargazing oculi, and handcrafted interiors. Built with minimal environmental impact and maximum nature immersion, it reflects Aarunya’s commitment to biodynamic hospitality and design rooted in land and legacy.

Sol Sanctuary is part of a broader vision that includes Aarunya’s nine other villas—ranging from Sky Pavilions to glamping-style Sky Tented Villas—each offering private plunge pools, panoramic views, and locally crafted details. Guests enjoy bespoke experiences including Ayurveda-based wellness at the Aarogya Spa, forest-framed yoga, and farm-to-table cuisine at Aahaara, Verandah, and Aahaasa Tea Pavilion.

Sustainability is core to Aarunya’s operations—solar power, water self-sufficiency, plastic-free policy, and conservation initiatives through the Aarunya Nature Foundation. In Fall 2025, the resort will open its Nature Pavilion, a bamboo-and-timber ecological research hub in partnership with the University of Peradeniya, reinforcing its leadership in impact-driven tourism. Aarunya positions itself as Sri Lanka’s first biodynamic, luxury hospitality model.