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JOALI Maldives

Raa Atoll, Maldives · JOALI · Apex Luxury

Opened in 2018 on Muravandhoo Island in the Raa Atoll as the Maldives' first art-immersive resort, JOALI was founded by Turkish entrepreneur Esin Gural Argat and built by the studio Autobahn. More than sixty interactive artworks assembled by Istanbul-based No LaB unfold across the island, most famously Porky Hefer's giant manta-ray treehouse with a 50-foot wingspan where guests dine in the treetops.

• 73 rooms
• Opened 2018
• Architect: Autobahn (Turkish design/architecture studio)

About JOALI Maldives

• Designer Porky Hefer's giant manta-ray treehouse has a 50-foot wingspan and lets guests dine high in the tree line.
• Its name comes from the word joy, reflecting the resort's founding philosophy of joy of living.

History

JOALI Maldives opened in 2018 on Muravandhoo Island in the Raa Atoll, a seaplane journey north of Malé, as the Maldives' first art-immersive luxury resort. Founded by Turkish entrepreneur Esin Güral Argat and built by the Turkish studio Autobahn, the 73-villa resort spreads across a roughly 24-acre island where contemporary art functions as the primary design language.

More than sixty interactive artworks, curated by Istanbul-based No LaB, unfold across the island — most famously Porky Hefer's giant manta-ray treehouse, in which guests can dine high in the tree line. The resort embodies a 'joy of living' philosophy and has garnered recognition including La Liste honors and the World Travel Awards' Indian Ocean's Leading Villa Resort.

The setting

170 km from Velana International Airport.

Restaurants and bars

• Saoke — Restaurant · Japanese
• Bellinis — Restaurant · Italian
• Vandhoo — Restaurant · Asian

Amenities

• Spa
• Infinity pool
• Sauna
• Fitness center
• Kids' club
• Tennis
• Beach
• Water sports

Awards

• Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
• La Liste World's Best Hotels (2026)
• MICHELIN One Key (2026)
• Travel + Leisure World's Best Hotels (2026)

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More JOALI hotels

• JOALI Being — Bodufushi, Maldives · Apex Luxury

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