JOALI Maldives is less a five-star resort and more a deeply personalised, art-soaked, multi-sensory experience— we think it is ideal for honeymooners emerging from manic wedding months, and for multigenerational families or close friends looking to celebrate in style.

Heaven is a place on earth. But the catch (there always is one) is that you’re going to have to be willing to part with a couple thousand dollars per night for it. Yet, JOALI Maldives, somehow makes this seem worth it. JOAL Maldives is about the kind of luxury that doesn’t need to shout; it whispers in the background, while you are treated like royalty by its people, or the planet peacocking the very best of its ocean vistas. This is luxury that anticipates your needs before you even think of them. Luxury that is weather‑agnostic. Even on windy, cloudy, or rainy days, there is solace, story, and plenty to do at JOALI Maldives. 

From well‑living to art‑forward living

After spending two nights at its wellness‑centric sibling JOALI BEING, I boarded a speedboat and skimmed across the same Raa Atoll for a 20‑minute ride to JOALI Maldives. After back‑to‑back days of sunscreen neglect, I for one, was grateful for cloudy skies. As an extra treat, the crew fixed floats to the bow, letting us sit right at the front, faces misted by waves. A brief, yet welcome reprieve from the humidity.

The first thing you notice about JOALI Maldives is the impressive arrival jetty.It arches out into the lagoon in the shape of a manta ray—one of JOALI’s mascots—and sets the tone for an island where sculpture, design, and whimsy are ubiquitous.

We were greeted by a coterie of smiling staff, right hand on their heart in JOALI’s signature “marhabaa” greeting, including General Manager Shifaz and Sales Manager Farzona, excited to show us how this flagship differs from JOALI BEING. If BEING mends the body and soul, JOALI Maldives expands them in celebratory, art-soaked wonder. Where BEING is anchored in wellness and the “Joy of Well‑Living”, JOALI Maldives is art‑forward and family‑friendly. More about creativity and joyful indulgence than diagnostics and cryotherapy. Over 20 large‑scale artworks punctuate the island, all commissioned from international artists and woven into the landscape so seamlessly they feel found, not placed.

Villas for slow living and long conversations

The island offers 73 villas and residences, in both beach and overwater categories. I checked into a Luxury Sunset Water Villa with Pool: 108 sqm of interior space, unfurling into a massive 280 sqm footprint thanks to an expansive sun deck and a 35 sqm infinity pool that appears to pour straight into the lagoon.

Inside, the mood shifts from its younger sister JOALI BEING’s aquamarine minimalism to a more classic, quietly opulent design language. Think warm wood, soft neutrals, and thoughtful details. Two TVs nod to the idea that you could watch something here, though if you actually do, I reserve the right to judge. There are his‑and‑hers sinks, a separate dedicated vanity table, and a bathrooms fitted out in emerald marble.

Art is part of the architecture at JOALI Maldives. Apart from the 20+ art pieces on the island, you’ve also got some in your villa. Each villa features “Pearl”, a wall sculpture by Turkish artist Seçkin Pirim, an ode to the shifting aquamarine moods of the surrounding water. Another piece, an unassuming pineapple worth several thousand dollars, sat innocently on a table until my self‑awareness kicked in and I asked our butler to whisk it away before my clumsiness turned it into very expensive modern art.

Everything—pool placement, lounger orientation, outdoor shower—is clearly designed for slow living. Time loosens its grip here. Sunsets become events, not timestamps.

Jadugars: The smiling magicians behind the curtain

Each JOALI accommodation comes with its own butler, or Jadugar (“magician” in Urdu); ours was a sweet lady named Nouha. JOALI borrows the term from its Turkish roots, but it fits perfectly: Jadugars are that blend of logistics genius, quiet confidante, and wish‑granters who make remote‑island life feel frictionless. Places like JOALI don’t have physical front desks. You are checked in, by your Jadugar, in the comfort of your villa. 

As Lubna Mukhi, AVP at THRS (the rep company hosting our trip), told us, some JOALI regulars postpone entire holidays if their favourite Jadugar isn’t available. After two days, I could see why. You may feel far from civilisation, but your wildest requests have a way of simply… appearing. Transfers, restaurant bookings, snorkel plans, forgotten toiletries, surprise celebrations …everything dissolves into a kind of invisible choreography.

Even ordinary rituals—showers, skincare, the walk to dinner, feel subtly staged and considered.\

The Story Behind the Island

On our island tour, Farzona filled us in on JOALI Maldives’ origin story. The owner, Esin Güral Argat, heiress of Turkey’s Güral Group, spent years searching for a remote, untouched island where she could marry art, sustainability, and a distinctly feminine sensibility. She fell in love with Muravandhoo and commissioned Istanbul‑based design studio Autoban to bring her vision to life: raw, tactile materials, organic forms, and an emphasis on softness rather than spectacle. It was first opened to the public in October 2018, and hasn’t looked back since. 

There’s even an urban legend about a local named “Ali”, whom she met early in the process and after whom the resort was playfully named in internal lore. Our group of Indian travel designers immediately fixated on Ali’s fate—“Does he get royalties? Complementary villa privileges?”—questions which we await responses for. We won’t be holding our breath for them, though.

Maramas: A kids’ club you’ll be jealous of

If JOALI BEING treats children like young adults—with cooking classes and conservation workshops—JOALI Maldives embraces full‑blown play. Maramas, the kids’ club, is enormous and still expanding, anchored by mascots Manta, Turty, Mermie, and Pico the Heron. Expect weekly foam parties, themed activities, and a programme so well thought through that even the most jaded grown‑up will feel a twinge of envy.

It’s one of the reasons this island is so well‑suited to multigen celebrations: kids disappear into their own universe while adults oscillate between spa, bar, sea, and bed.

Beach villas and big‑deal residences

While the water villas capture the Maldives fantasy, the beach villas more than pull their own weight with privacy and sheer scale. Some clock in at around 865 sqm, with the two‑bedroom beach villa stretching to roughly 1113 sqm—gardens, pools, and shaded nooks for everyone to vanish into.

We toured the larger residences and got a glimpse into JOALI’s conservation work helmed by their resident marine biologist, Shameem. Two turtles had recently nested on the island, and he had live camera feeds of both nests on his phone; guests regularly message asking to be notified when the eggs are close to hatching. Science, stewardship, and story, all playing out on the sand.

Spa-ctacular wellness

Is JOALI BEING’s spa more extensive? Yes—39 treatment rooms and an overall focus on wellness is hard to compete with. But JOALI Maldives holds its own beautifully with a more compact, eight‑treatment‑room spa that’s exquisitely designed and includes a proper hammam. Treatments skew indulgent rather than clinical—think body rituals, facials, and massages that sit perfectly between “pampering” and “I might actually feel human again after this.”

For honeymooners, this balance hits the sweet spot: you can do a couple of serious treatments, but you’re never in danger of accidentally booking yourself into a wellness retreat when you meant to be on honeymoon. For the more hardcore wellness enthusiasts, the best wellness island I know, JOALI BEING is a short 15 minute speedboat jaunt away. They are more than happy to welcome sister property guests for a wellness day, or even just a meal. 

Five spectacular restaurants

At this level of luxury, a thin F&B offering would be unforgivable. JOALI Maldives delivers five distinct dining arenas, each dripping with its own personality.

The gorgeous design of their overwater Japanese restaurant, Saoke. A breathtaking timber lattice cieling in traditional kumiko style alludes to the artistry in the kitchen (Photo credit: JOALI Maldives)

• SAOKE: the showstopper. A stilted Japanese restaurant designed by Noriyoshi Muramatsu (the mind behind the interiors of Zuma addresses globally), all clean lines, bamboo, and a breathtaking timber lattice ceiling evoking traditional kumiko work. Beneath you, reef sharks cruise lazily. Before dinner, a box of chopsticks and sake cups appears; each piece is unique, and you’re asked to pick the ones that “call to you”. It feels a bit like Ollivander’s wand shop, and I naturally chose the chopsticks that most resembled a wand and a crimson sake cup. Highlights: A5 wagyu, sumiyaki‑grilled black cod (my co‑travellers, Nobu veterans, remarked it exceeded the original), Maldivian lobster, and pristine sushi and maki. “The only reason we don’t have a Michelin star is that the guide hasn’t come to the Maldives yet,” our server said, only half‑joking.

• Vandhoo: the all‑day dining restaurant serving South‑East Asian, Chinese, and Indian staples, and home to the breakfast spread that fuels both gym sessions and horizontal beach days. Amongst other things of note, children (and honestly, adults too) will love their peanut butter-making machine. 
• Tuh’u – Middle Eastern plates under the stars. Think flame‑kissed meats, smoky dips, and comfort food with serious polish.
• Bellinis – where we dined the first night. Fresh catch cooked with restraint, exceptional ragù, striking Aquazzura crockery, and a standout dessert: avocado panna cotta with crunchy chocolate mousse and honey‑ginger sauce. It sounds chaotic; it works.
• Mura Bar – the relaxed pool and beach bar. All‑day classics, a wagyu burger that ruins lesser burgers for you, and a whisky‑cigar lounge that fills up as the sun goes down. For kids (and adults who know what’s good for them), there’s a dedicated ice‑cream emporium with wildly fun flavours; the champagne scoop was a hit.

Operations in the kitchen are overseen by Kapil Sharma, Director of Culinary, whose résumé includes Taj, Four Seasons Maldives, and Anantara Doha—a pedigree that shows on every plate.

The Joys of JOALI: Doing (or not doing!) it all

JOALI’s activities programme is aptly named the Joys of JOALI. You can be as busy or as blissfully idle as you like. A week will easily go by without your noticing. Just know that most of these activities are additionally charagable:

• House reef snorkelling – A guided reef snorkel with the island Marine Biologist, Shameem, showcases just how healthy JOALI’s house reef is in a region where coral bleaching is a constant worry. We spotted parrotfish, surgeonfish, squirrelfish, soldierfish, neon fusiliers, and a riot of other species. As a charming winter tradition, the team “plants” retired Christmas decorations in the reef, letting them slowly transform into living coral sculptures.
• Mixology workshop – A playful cocktail session with Beverage Manager Vikas, where JOAgaritas (watermelon margaritas) flow, and you’re gently shepherded into creating your own signature drink. It’s less a class and more a story‑driven evening with excellent outcomes.
• Sports & creativity – Padel lessons that genuinely sharpen your game, tennis, an art house for pottery, mug painting and glazing, plus multiple dive options (including night dives), flyboard jetpacks, parasailing, semi‑submarine rides, manta ray snorkelling, sunset and big‑game fishing. A fleet of four yachts, from 36 to 80 feet, stands ready for private excursions.

The Verdict

After two nights, it was hard to shake the feeling that JOALI Maldives is less a resort and more a beautifully curated parallel universe. It’s where honeymooners come to exhale after months of spreadsheets and spreadsheets disguised as guest lists; where families and friend groups celebrate milestones without ever feeling like they’re sharing space with strangers.

Paradise doesn’t have to be hedonistic. Here, it’s creative, playful, deeply comfortable—and designed so that every sense, and every generation, finds a version of joy that fits just right.

Keen to take this once in a lifetime trip to JOALI Maldives? Travel with Panache and we’ll get you the best rates and turn this VIP experience, VVIP. Contact us to know more.