Since 2015, I have been following the Maldives’ new resort openings, renovations and upcoming island projects year after year. Here is my 2026 update.
New Maldives Resorts Opening in 2026
The Maldives is entering a new development cycle with the acceleration of large-scale island developments, integrated destinations and man-made island projects, mainly around South Male Atoll this year.
This is not entirely new in the Maldives. Fari Islands already introduced this kind of multi-island model in North Male Atoll with Patina Maldives, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands and the future Capella Maldives.
But the rhythm is clearly changing.
New developments continue in South Male Atoll with several major projects, reworked islands and artificial island concepts planned or under construction.
As usual with Maldives openings, some resorts are on time, some are delayed, some quietly move from one year to another, and some should be watched with caution.
Building a resort in the Maldives is never simple. Building branded residences, private estates, marinas and multi-island destinations is even less so.
About the 2026 Maldives openings lists
Many sites publish stories about waves of new luxury resort brands coming to the Maldives, mentioning several of the names I have been following here for years, including Bulgari, Mandarin Oriental, Mondrian, Baccarat, Aman and Nobu.
It is always interesting to see the international press pick up this pipeline.
But for Dreaming of Maldives readers, the key is not only the big brand name.
The important questions are :
-Where is the resort located ?
-Is it a new island, a rebranding, a residence project or an integrated development ?
-Was it already delayed ?
-Is it confirmed, soft-opening, or still just in the pipeline ?
-Is it a natural island, a transformed island or part of a man-made development ?
That is why I separate confirmed openings, delayed openings, uncertain openings and future projects.
8 new resorts are expected to open in 2026 in the Maldives
Here is the current 2026 opening list.
- RAH GILI Maldives, South Male Atoll, Six & Six Private Islands.
- Meliá Whale Lagoon Maldives, South Ari Atoll, opened in January 2026, rebranding of the former Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives
- Aura Maldives, Baa Atoll, opening expected late 2026.
- DON MAAGA Maldives, South Male Atoll, expected late 2026.
- Mandarin Oriental Bolidhuffaru Reef Resort, South Male Atoll, delayed from 2025 and still to watch.
- Mondrian Maldives, Noonu Atoll, rebranding of the former Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives.
- Vaagali Maldives, Vignette Collection, South Male Atoll, opening expected late 2026.
- Zamani Islands, South Male Atoll, first phase expected in 2026.
Delayed Maldives resort openings
Several highly anticipated openings were previously announced for 2025 or 2026, but are now delayed or should be moved to the future pipeline.
- Bulgari Resort Ranfushi Maldives, Raa Atoll, now expected in 2027.
- Capella Maldives, Fari Islands, North Male Atoll, now expected in 2027.
- Rosewood Ranfaru Maldives, South Male Atoll, now expected in 2027.
- Baccarat Hotel & Residences Maldives, South Male Atoll, expected in 2027.
- Mandarin Oriental Bolidhuffaru Reef Resort, South Male Atoll, previously announced for 2025, still not open.
- Nammos Resort Maldives was supposed to open in 2025, then this year, but seems to be postponed again to 2027. To be watched too !
Read more about Nammos Maldives Opening
Stay tuned for the latest news and updates about the Maldives upcoming resorts
South Male Atoll, the new hotspot for large island developments
South Male Atoll is now one of the most active development zones in the Maldives.
This year and in the coming years, several of the biggest openings and future projects are concentrated there :
- RAH GILI Maldives
- DON MAAGA Maldives
- Mandarin Oriental Bolidhuffaru Reef Resort
- Baccarat Hotel & Residences Maldives
- Rosewood Ranfaru Maldives
- Zamani Islands
There are several reasons for this.
South Male Atoll is close to Velana International Airport, thus transfers are easier than in the far atolls with speedboat access to all islands.
The atoll is now seeing more transformed islands, reworked resorts and man-made developments.
RAH GILI Maldives is a good example. The island was previously known as Rihiveli, one of my favorite resort and an absolute natural beauty. It has now been transformed into a new Six & Six Private Islands concept with water villas.
read more /
Opening of six new resorts by Six & Six Private Islands in Maldives in 2025 and 2026
Rihiveli as we used to know it. © Dreaming of Maldives
For anyone who knew the old Maldives, this transformation is symbolic.
The Maldives is still about lagoons, beaches and dream islands, but many new projects are now much larger, more structured, more branded and more real estate driven.
North Male Atoll and Fari Islands, the existing model
North Male Atoll already introduced this new generation of island development with Fari Islands.
Fari Islands is a man-made multi-island destination, home to The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, Patina Maldives, and the long-awaited Capella Maldives.
Capella Maldives has been delayed several times and is now expected in 2027.
read more /
Opening of Capella Maldives at Fari Islands in 2027
Fari Islands created a new reference point in the Maldives : several luxury brands, shared infrastructure, a village concept, marinas, dining venues and multiple islands within one large lagoon development.
South Male Atoll is now developing its own version of this model, with Zamani Islands, Baccarat, Mandarin Oriental Bolidhuffaru Reef Resort and Six & Six Private Islands.
Maldives 2026 openings in detail
For 2026, I currently count 8 Maldives openings, launches or major debuts to follow closely. This includes Meliá Whale Lagoon Maldives, which opened in January 2026, Aura Maldives, DON MAAGA Maldives, RAH GILI Maldives, Vaagali Maldives Vignette Collection, Mondrian Maldives, the rebranding of the former Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru, and as an outsider, Zamani Islands, with its residences, whose first phase is expected in 2026.
As usual with Maldives openings, I prefer to be cautious. A confirmed opening, a delayed resort, a rebranding and a large integrated island development do not mean exactly the same thing, and in the Maldives, dates have a long tradition of moving.
All photos & Artist Impressions © Respective Resorts
Aura Maldives. Opening expected late 2026
Aura Maldives is one of the most anticipated openings in Baa Atoll.
Opening of Aura Maldives in Baa Atoll in 2026
The resort is developed by Pulse Hotels & Resorts, the group behind The Nautilus Maldives, Kandima Maldives and Nova Maldives.
Aura Maldives was initially announced for July 2026, but the opening is now expected toward the end of the year.
The resort is planned inside Baa Atoll, one of the Maldives’ most precious marine environments. It is expected to focus on slow luxury, wellness, natural design and a more mindful island experience.
read more /
Opening of Aura Maldives in Baa Atoll in 2026
DON MAAGA Maldives. Opening expected late 2026
DON MAAGA Maldives, previously also written as DHON MAAGA Maldives in some early mentions, is part of the Six & Six Private Islands portfolio.
It is planned as an ultra-luxury island in South Male Atoll, with large villas, private pools and a strong focus on space and privacy.
The resort appears to be positioned above RAH GILI Maldives in the Six & Six collection, with a more exclusive concept.
As usual, this one remains on my watchlist. Late 2026 is the current target, but Maldives openings have their own calendar.
read more /
Opening of six new resorts by Six & Six Private Islands in Maldives in 2025 and 2026
Mandarin Oriental Bolidhuffaru Reef Resort. Delayed from 2025
Mandarin Oriental Bolidhuffaru Reef Resort is one of the biggest delayed openings to watch.
originally announced for 2025, the opening of Mandarin Oriental Bolidhuffaru Reef Resort is postponed to 2026
The resort was originally announced for 2025, on Bolidhuffaru Reef in South Male Atoll. The project is planned across three private islands and expected to feature stand-alone beachfront and overwater villas, with branded residences.
It is an important project because Mandarin Oriental has long been expected in the Maldives, and because Bolidhuffaru Reef is another example of South Male Atoll’s new wave of large-scale luxury developments.
At this stage, I would not present the opening as fully confirmed for 2026. I would list it as delayed from 2025 and still to watch.
read more /
Opening of a Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Maldives
Meliá Whale Lagoon Maldives. Opened January 2026
Originally operated by the Barceló Hotel Group, Meliá Whale Lagoon Maldives opened in January 2026 in South Ari Atoll.
This is the first Meliá Hotels & Resorts property in the Maldives. The resort is located near SAMPA, the South Ari Marine Protected Area, the best-known regions in the Maldives for whale shark encounters.
Meliá Whale Lagoon Maldives is an all-inclusive five-star resort, with a strong focus on beach, lagoon, marine life and accessible luxury.
This opening is important because it brings another major Spanish hotel brand to the Maldives, together with RIU and Barceló, which now operates Nasandhura, an old-time favorite hotel in Male.
Mondrian Maldives. Opening 2026. Rebranding
Mondrian Maldives is not a brand-new island, but a major rebranding.
The former Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives, located in Noonu Atoll, is being transformed into Mondrian Maldives.
The resort is planned with overwater pool villas, beach pool villas and three-bedroom residences. Mondrian’s arrival brings a more design-led and lifestyle-oriented identity to Noonu Atoll.
This one should be classified as a rebranding rather than a new island opening.
read more /
Kuredhivaru Resort & Spa : From Mövenpick to Mondrian
RAH GILI Maldives. Six & Six Private Islands
RAH GILI Maldives is the first island in the Six & Six Private Islands collection.
Located in South Male Atoll, it is planned as a contemporary resort with private pool villas, overwater villas, dining venues and a more social, modern atmosphere.
The story of this island particularly interests me because it is connected to the former Rihiveli.
Rihiveli was a very different Maldives story, simpler, beloved and more traditional. Its transformation into RAH GILI says a lot about the current direction of Maldives tourism.
read more /
Opening of six new resorts by Six & Six Private Islands in Maldives in 2025 and 2026
Vaagali Maldives, Vignette Collection. Opening expected late 2026
Vaagali Maldives, Vignette Collection, is scheduled to open in late 2026 in South Male Atoll.
The resort will join IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Vignette Collection and is expected to feature 52 land and overwater villas.
Compared with the large integrated projects now appearing in South Male Atoll, Vaagali looks smaller and more intimate.
The concept is built around Maldivian family heritage, island nature, wellness, cultural identity and a more personal sense of place.
Zamani Islands. First phase expected in 2026
Zamani Islands is one of the largest island developments currently planned in the Maldives.
This new group of islands is listed separately from normal resort openings. It is an integrated destination and private estate project, not a classic one island, one resort opening.
Located in South Male Atoll, the project is planned across eight islands. It includes private estates, mansions, residences, three resorts, a yacht club and the first superyacht marina in the Maldives.
The first phase is expected to focus on private estates and mansions.
2027 and future Maldives openings
As for now, for 2027, I could find 5 Maldives openings, launches or major debuts to follow closely.
Baccarat Hotel & Residences Maldives, Bulgari Resort Ranfushi Maldives, Capella Maldives at Fari Islands and Rosewood Ranfaru Maldives are the strongest names on the list.
Zamani Islands may also belong here if its main hospitality phase moves beyond the first private-estate launch announced for this year.
Baccarat Hotel & Residences Maldives. Opening expected 2027
Baccarat Hotel & Residences Maldives is expected to open in 2027 in South Male Atoll.
The project will include hotel villas, private residences, mansions and private island accommodation.
This is one of the most important future openings because it fully reflects the new Maldives direction, luxury hospitality mixed with branded private residences and real estate.
Bulgari Resort Ranfushi Maldives. Opening now expected 2027
Bulgari Resort Ranfushi Maldives was previously expected around 2026, but the official Bulgari Hotels & Resorts website now indicates 2027.
read more /
Opening of Bulgari Maldives
Capella Maldives. Opening now expected 2027
Capella Maldives has been one of the most delayed openings in the Maldives.
Originally announced years ago, it is part of Fari Islands in North Male Atoll, a man-made multi-island development already home to Patina Maldives and The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands.
The opening is now expected in 2027.
read more /
Opening of Capella Maldives at Fari Islands in 2027
Rosewood Ranfaru Maldives. Opening expected 2027
Rosewood Ranfaru from Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, initially scheduled for opening in 2025, has been reappointed for 2027.
The resort is planned in South Male Atoll and will bring the Rosewood brand to the Maldives for the first time.
read more /
Opening of Rosewood Ranfaru Maldives in 2027
future Maldives openings. Undisclosed dates
- Nobu Hotel, Residences and Restaurant Maldives. Future opening
- SAMANA Ocean Views interiors by ELIE SAAB. Future branded residence project
- Aman Maldives. Future opening
- Wondering about Maxx Royal Maldives. Date still unclear and information are not official. Maxx Royal Maldives is another future project to watch. The project has been mentioned in the Maldives luxury pipeline, but the exact opening date remains less clear.
My opinion on Maldives opening delays
After following Maldives openings for more than a decade, I never take an announced opening date too literally.
In the Maldives, dates move. Often.
A resort can be announced for one year, open the next, or quietly disappear from the calendar until a new brand, new owner or new concept appears. It happens all the time.
The reasons are many : construction, logistics, staff housing, marine works, transfers, landscaping, imported materials, environmental approvals, or simply the decision to wait until the island is ready.
read more about the challenge on building a resort in Maldives.
Some resorts open softly. Some open with only part of the island ready. Some keep finishing villas and facilities after welcoming the first guests.
A new resort can be exciting, but the very first months are not always the best time to go. Service may still be settling, vegetation may be young, and some facilities may open in phases.
The Maldives is changing shape
The classic Maldives dream is still there : one island, one resort, blue lagoon, white beach, overwater villas.
But the map is changing. The next wave brings branded residences, private estates, large man-made developments, transformed islands, multi-island destinations, yacht clubs, marinas and global luxury names.
South Male Atoll is at the centre of this movement in 2026 and beyond.
North Male Atoll has already shown the model with Fari Islands. Baa, Noonu, South Ari, Laamu, Raa and Vaavu also remain important for future openings.
The Maldives dream is becoming bigger, more branded, more residential and much more complex.
read more /
Branded Residences And Private Estates Coming To The Maldives
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