Manhattan Grand Hotel has opened in Hulhumalé on 7 November 2026, introducing a five-star hospitality property with 162 rooms and suites, multiple dining concepts, extensive meetings and events facilities, and an international wellness offering to the Greater Malé region.
The hotel was
inaugurated by His Excellency Hassan Zareer, Minister of Finance and Public
Enterprises, during a ceremony attended by government officials, investors,
hospitality industry representatives and distinguished guests.
Developed and operated
by World of Business Pvt Ltd, with investment participation from UAE-based Deep
Seafood Company, the project transforms the long-unfinished former STO City
Hotel development into an operational hospitality landmark, supporting the expansion
of Hulhumalé's tourism and business infrastructure.
The property features
162 contemporary rooms and suites across eight accommodation categories,
including city-view and sea-view options. Facilities include a 20-metre outdoor
swimming pool, fitness centre and dedicated wellness spaces, catering to business
and leisure travellers, transit passengers, airline crews and event organisers.
Inspired by the
architectural heritage of the historic Hukuru Miskiy (Old Friday Mosque), the
hotel follows its brand philosophy, "Live the Heritage". Its design
incorporates traditional Maldivian craftsmanship, cultural elements and a
collection of heritage-inspired artworks.
Located approximately
10 minutes from Velana International Airport, the property offers convenient
access to the capital region and surrounding islands.
Expanding Business
and MICE Tourism
A key feature of
Manhattan Grand Hotel is its integrated Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and
Exhibitions (MICE) facilities, designed to accommodate major corporate events,
conferences and gatherings.
The property offers
three principal event halls: Mā Ashi, covering 700 square metres; Maalan,
spanning 400 square metres; and Holhuashi, covering 390 square metres.
These are complemented
by the Ras Ain Meeting and Conference Facilities, which include the Ras Giri
Conference Room, Ras Faruma Training Room, Ras Vani Meeting Room and Ras Pod
working spaces.
With dedicated
audiovisual infrastructure, banquet operations, event services and separate
guest flows, the hotel is designed to host up to three major events
simultaneously without disrupting individual proceedings.
The facilities
position the property to serve corporate organisations, conference organisers
and event planners seeking venues in the Greater Malé area.
Four Dining
Concepts and International Wellness Partnership
The hotel's food and
beverage offering comprises four distinct concepts catering to different dining
preferences.
Hen Na serves as the
all-day breakfast venue, while World of Seafood focuses on seafood dining. Café
Barbera introduces an established Italian coffeehouse concept, and Vilu offers
a specialised dining experience.
The hotel has also
partnered with Mandara Spa, an internationally recognised wellness brand within
the OneSpaWorld portfolio, to operate its planned spa facilities. The wellness
offering will complement the hotel's swimming pool and fitness centre.
Community and
Public-Service Facilities
Beyond its hospitality
operations, the development incorporates a corporate social responsibility
component, allocating approximately three and a half floors for community and
public-service initiatives.
The dedicated spaces
accommodate a Media Village, health and educational functions, and
youth-focused facilities. The Health Protection Agency has already commenced
operations from offices within the building.
Ali Nahiz, Chief
Operating Officer of Manhattan Grand Hotel, said: “Our vision has always been
to establish more than a hotel. Manhattan Grand Hotel brings together Maldivian
heritage, modern hospitality and the infrastructure needed to support business,
tourism and major events in the Greater Malé region. We are proud to see this
landmark development welcomed into the community and look forward to the
opportunities it will create,”
The opening
celebrations also featured a fireworks display and traditional Maldivian
Bondibaiy shared with the public, reflecting the hotel's emphasis on local
culture and community engagement.
With its accommodation, dining, wellness and event facilities, Manhattan Grand Hotel aims to strengthen Hulhumalé's position as a hospitality and business destination while supporting the continued development of tourism infrastructure across the Greater Malé region. -TradeArabia News Service