Meliá makes Maldives debut with opening of all-villa resort

Sign up to our newsletters

Stay informed with the
latest news and analysis

REGISTER

عربي

You are viewing 1 of your 2 free articles

Meliá Whale Lagoon Maldives

Meliá Hotels International has made its long-awaited debut in the Maldives with the opening of Meliá Whale Lagoon Maldives, a five-star, all-inclusive resort in the South Ari Atoll. The launch marks a key milestone in the Spanish hospitality group’s global expansion and growing focus on nature-led luxury.

Just a 30‑minute seaplane flight from Malé International Airport, the resort lies within the South Ari Marine Protected Area, famed for year‑round encounters with whale sharks and manta rays, offering guests opportunities for snorkelling, diving, paddle boarding and kayaking.

Designed to foster privacy and a sense of connection with the natural surroundings, the resort’s 100 oceanfront villas are positioned either on the beach or suspended above the lagoon.

Interiors draw inspiration from island motifs, complemented by generous outdoor spaces. Water Villas provide direct access to coral reefs, while Sunset Suite Villas feature private pools, open-air bathrooms, and panoramic views. Beach Villas, set directly along the shoreline, offer immediate access to the sand and sea.

Melia Whale Lagoon Maldivas overwater villas

Overwater villas, Meliá Whale Lagoon Maldives

Dining spans four restaurants and bars. Sea Salt, the resort’s all-day venue, serves global cuisine with ocean views, while Aqua specialises in fresh seafood in an al fresco setting. Guests can enjoy light bites and cocktails at Breeze, the relaxed poolside bar, or sample international flavours across curated dining experiences.

Resort facilities include two infinity pools, a fully equipped fitness centre and a spa with six treatment rooms offering holistic rituals and body therapies. Guests can also unwind in dedicated wellness spaces including a sauna, hammam and steam bath.

The resort’s entertainment programme caters to all ages, offering live music, open-air cinema, cooking classes, wine tastings, karaoke sessions and curated children’s activities.

Six & Six to open 6 resorts in the Maldives

NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort reopens with new pool villas

Commenting on the opening, Gabriel Escarrer, Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, said: “The Maldives represent the essence of our purpose: to grow in the world’s most exclusive destinations and create unique moments in incomparable settings, delivered with the hospitality that defines Meliá,”

The launch comes amid a dynamic year for the Maldives’ hospitality landscape, with several notable openings reshaping the archipelago’s resort offering. Recent highlights include the reopening of NH Collection Maldives Reethi Beach Resort, following an extensive six-month transformation, and the debut of Nala Maldives by Jawakara Islands, an adults-only hideaway set on a 10-hectare island in the Lhaviyani Atoll.

Looking ahead, growth shows no sign of slowing. Six & Six Private Islands will make its entry into the archipelago in 2026 with two openings in the South Malé Atoll, followed by four additional properties over the next six years. Meanwhile, Mondrian and Bvlgari are also set to launch new Maldivian resorts, offering 105 and 54 villas respectively, further cementing the destination’s position as a global luxury tourism hotspot.

For more information, visit melia.com/hotel-whale-lagoon-maldives