JOALI is a breath-taking place. This resort in the Maldives offers some of the most luxurious villas in the world and combines these sublime accommodations with a stunning setting, incredible food & service, a wonderful on-site art collection, memorable nature experiences and a unique approach towards sustainability. JOALI’s motto is ‘Joy of Living’, and that is exactly what you may expect.

Location

JOALI is located on the idyllic Muravandhoo Island in the Maldives. This island lies within the Raa Atoll island group (in the Northern part of the country) and is reachable with a 45 minutes flight from Malé international airport. Joali is one of the only resorts in the Maldives with a private seaplane, which offers luxurious, spacious leather seats.

Brilliant blue waters cover untouched coral reefs and surround the island’s pristine white-sand beaches. Gently swaying coconut palms offer relief from the sun and form a natural border for the lush and green vegetation. The atoll is about 24 acres big and very remote – no other inhabited islands are in sight from any of the villas or beaches.

JOALI sees it as its responsibility to take care of the environment. The resort was constructed with respect for the island and as many trees as possible (more than 1000) were left. The JOALI Reef Restoration Programme helps the island’s surrounding coral reefs to rehabilitate and recover.

The Resort

As the first “art-immersive hotel” in the Maldives, design and art are at the core of the JOALI experience. Istanbul-based art company “No LaB” was responsible for the on-site art collection and chose more than 60 pieces from up-and-coming international talents for the resort. According to their belief, art is more valuable when you can experience it. That is why they came up with the concept of Immersive Art, where they encourage the viewer to experience each piece and delve into the world of the artist.

An art map guides guests through the different works of art that are scattered around the island. Artists like Porky Hefer, Zemer Peled and Misha Kahn created new or adapted existing artworks especially for JOALI.  There is an art studio on the island and art-lovers can participate in interactive events and workshops as well. JOALI opened its doors in October 2018 and is one of the newest resorts in the Maldives.

Villas

JOALI’s private villas and residences are some of the most beautiful and luxurious accommodations in the world. They bring sustainable glamour to a new level and combine elegance with unseen levels of luxury. There are 73 villas & residences on the island (beach villas) or above the water (ocean villas).

All of the villas have wonderful beach and/or sea views, a big outdoor pool, luxurious indoor as well as outdoor bathroom areas, hand-carved wooden sliding doors and a stunning indoor bar area. The design of the villas is some of the best we have ever seen. Dark brown wood is combined with delicate rose, ocean blue, golden and beige colours. The extremely high ceilings give a very large feeling of space. Woven fans and accessories and wooden interior elements remind us of colonial South-East Asia.

The in-room bar features glass decanters designed by Turkish artist Feleksan Onar, gold water bottles, a great wine selection, and amazing glasswork. Lighting, music, air conditioning and the curtains are controlled via an iPad. Everything is state-of-the-art and the best of the best – from slippers to towels. The bathrooms are stunning, extremely luxurious and feature indoor as well as outdoor areas. Artisanal accessories, curated bookshelves and thoughtful works of art create an atmosphere that feels homely but extremely luxurious at the same time.

Guests have the choice between the following villa types: 

• Beach Villas with Pool measure around 108 square meters indoor (or 680 square meters including the outdoor area).
• Luxury Beach Villas with Pool have a separate living room and measure around 117 square meters (or 865 square meters including the outdoor area).
• (Sunset) Water Villas with Pool offer an enchanting life on the water experience, with an infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. They measure 100 square meters indoor, or 240 square meters including the outdoor area. Sunset villas overlook the breath-taking sunsets.
• (Sunset) Luxury Water Villas with Pool have a separate living room and measure around 108 square meters, or 280 square meters including the outdoor area.
• Family Beach Villas with Two Pools feature two bedrooms and two pools. They measure 142 square meters or up to 940 square meters including the outdoor area.
• The residences feature three or four bedrooms. They are huge, from 400 to 500 square meters, with a total surface of up to 1,100 square meters including the outdoor area.

Resort Assets

The joy of living is also translated into JOALI’s resort assets. Art, food and close-to-nature encounters are the main attractions, but there is much more to do:

• JOALI Spa by ESPA: the JOALI Spa by ESPA is a haven of wellbeing. An incredibly beautiful place, which encompasses treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room, power showers, a hammam, a vitality pool and relaxation areas. There are several treatments on offer and the fitness center boasts expansive views of the jungle and the ocean.
• Water Sports & Excursions: From water skiing, diving and snorkeling excursions, parasailing, wake boarding, or hiring a boat – everything is possible. On land, there is a tennis court as well as other sport possibilities.

• Muramas Kids Club offers treasure hunts for kids, a kid-friendly kitchen and a range of other fun activities for the kids.
• Art experiences: Beautiful pieces of art are located around the island and can even be discovered underwater. Many are interactive and incorporate their natural surroundings. The art walk on the property comes highly recommended, and you can also participate in some artistic experiences yourself.

Gastronomy

Dining at JOALI is defined as “culinary arts” and is a wonderful experience, indeed. The different restaurants offer an inventive fusion cuisine with recipes from all over the world. From the overwater Japanese restaurant to the resort’s main bar: everything is from a world-class standard and will surprise even the most experienced eaters.

• Vandhoo is the resort’s main restaurant and serves the best from South-East Asia, China, the Mediterranean, and the Levant. It is open for breakfast and dinner.

• Saoke is a unique Japanese/Peruvian (Nikkei) restaurant and designed by world-renowned Japanese restaurant architect Noriyoshi Muramatsu. Besides the exceptional interior, it offers spectacular views over the water. The kitchen is overseen by 2 Michelin star chef Takagi Kazuo and is a homage to traditional Japanese cuisine with Peruvian influences. Guests can choose from Teppanyaki, traditional sushi and sashimi, daily changing Ceviches, tempura, charcoal Robata dishes and Joali’s own Nikkei Cuisine. There is a wonderful tea and sake collection to complete the meal.

• Bellinis offers a piece of Italy in the midst of the Maldives. From antipasti to great pasta, this place offers a true Italian experience. Michelin star chef Theodor Falser is responsible for the menu here.

• Her Kitchen is a personalized culinary experience, where guests can prepare their meal with experienced chefs and learn how to cook some local recipes.
• Mura Bar is a great spot for cocktails, lunch and poolside snacks. There is also a special whiskey and cigar lounge for after dinner indulgence.

• La Joie offers artisanal chocolate & ice cream – for kids as well as adults.

• Destination Dining is possible at JOALI as well, and guests can enjoy a special menu on a private sandbank or even inside an art immersive Manta Ray treehouse.
  

Why Go?

JOALI Maldives is one of the best resorts in the world. The sophisticated island retreat offers 73 private beach and water villas that are the pinnacle of luxurious, sustainable glamour. As the Maldives’ first art immersive resort, JOALI offers the chance to experience art in an enchanting tropical setting. The four on-site restaurants offer culinary arts of an extremely high level and the spa can compete with some of the best in the world. JOALI offers the Joy of Living, and nothing less.

TRAVEL IN STYLE WITH ETIHAD

Flying to the Maldives? Choose well and travel in style with Etihad. We flew from Brussels to Malé with a stopover in Abu Dhabi. Fares start as low as € 650 for a round trip from Brussels to Malé in Economy Class or € 2.500 in Business class. Their business class offer is one of the best in the world, with a ‘dine anytime’ concept, Acqua Di Parma amenity kits and a state-of-the-art Inflight Entertainment System.

Discover more about our Etihad Business Class Experience