The Dubai-based DAMAC Group has signed a contract with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to manage a new resort in the Maldives.
Scheduled to open in 2025, the new resort is the first project in the Maldives for the DAMAC Group’s property development arm DAMAC Properties. The 34-hectare luxury resort stretches across three private islands on Bolidhuffaru Reef in South Malé Atoll, accessed by a 20-minute speedboat ride from the Velana International Airport.
“The DAMAC brand is synonymous with luxury products and service, and we felt the Maldives was a perfect location for us. DAMAC has extended its global footprint outside of the Middle East, from the UK to Canada, and we are thrilled to have now reached the Maldives as well. We look forward to working with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to manage our new resort on this beautiful island,” said Hussain Sajwani, Chairman and founder of the DAMAC Group.
“We are continuously entering into partnerships with established world class brands that mirror DAMAC’s reputation and standards for luxury offerings and are confident that Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will excel in its mandate.”
The announcement was made at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in Cannes.
Surrounded by white sandy beaches and vibrant coral reefs, the resort’s accommodation comprises of 130 villas – 61 overwater villas and 66 beach villas and 10 residences. With villa sizes ranging from 100 to 600 square metres, the resort will offer some of the largest in the market, complete with private pools and beautiful ocean views, each providing exclusivity and seclusion.
The luxury resort will also provide a variety of activities for guests, including culinary experiences at its various specialty restaurants as well as wellness retreats and water sports. Seven dining outlets, including three speciality restaurants and an exclusive dining venue with a pool bar, will ensure that guests have a varied choice of cuisines during their stay. Indoor and outdoor event spaces will provide unique locations for meetings, social gatherings and weddings.
Wellness facilities located among the resort’s tropical gardens encompasses 12 treatment suites, vitality pools, sauna and steam rooms as well as a beauty salon. Mandarin Oriental’s expert team of wellness practitioners will offer tailored experiences and the Group’s signature treatments.
Additional leisure activities include a water sports and a dive centre, tennis courts, a world class kids and teens club designed by international consultants, a swimming pool and numerous private coves and beaches to explore.
The resort operator is also working with a number of international consultants to ensure sustainability best practices are followed in all stages of the development.
“Mandarin Oriental is focused on developing its resort portfolio and has been looking to enter the Maldives for some time. This project represents the right opportunity for the Group,” said James Riley, Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group owns and operates of some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences. Having grown from its Asian roots into a global brand, the Group now operates 36 hotels and seven residences in 24 countries and territories, with each property reflecting the Group’s oriental heritage and unique sense of place. A member of the Jardine Matheson Group, Mandarin Oriental has a strong pipeline of hotels and residences under development.
DAMAC Group’s property development arm, DAMAC Properties, is one of the top luxury real estate developers in the Middle East. Since 1982, the company has been developing a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial and leisure properties across the region and beyond.
