The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has made its debut in the Maldives, with the opening of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands.

“We have long wanted to expand The Ritz-Carlton brand into this iconic luxury destination and are thrilled to evolve our global portfolio with this significant debut,” said Donna McNamara, vice-president and global brand leader for The Ritz-Carlton. “From its thoughtful architecture to its culturally immersive programming, this resort represents the brand’s commitment to the innovate experiences that today’s luxury traveler seeks.”

Located on the Fari Islands, an archipelago on the north-eastern tip of North Malé Atoll, the resort is accessible via a ten-minute seaplane ride or a 45-minute boat ride from Velana International Airport. Part of the Fari Marina, which is home to a beach club, boutiques and restaurants, it was designed by award-winning Kerry Hill Architects.

Featuring a minimalist architecture that reflects and embraces the beru or circle of island life, it offers 100 one- to three-bedroom villas, which are either set over clear waters or nestled in beach coves. Each spacious villa has sliding doors blurring the line between indoors and out, and a sun deck with a private infinity pool. An “Aris Meeha” or island butler is assigned to each room.

F&B is covered by five distinct culinary venues on-site and two off the resort.

• Summer Pavilion is housed in a lantern-inspired overwater space. It draws inspiration from The Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore’s Michelin-starred restaurant, and showcases contemporary Cantonese cuisine.
• Iwau or “celebrate” in Japanese, is an open-air restaurant with two teppanyaki grills.
• La Locanda serves espressos in the morning and aperitifs in the late afternoon and evening, along with southern Italian cuisine.
• Beach Shack features shared plates and grilled seafoods reflecting the relaxed cuisines of the Mediterranean.
• Eau Bar serves an afternoon tea with a Maldivian twist before transitioning to a menu with fresh oysters, caviar and tableside crafted cocktails.

An eight-minute trip in a dhoni, a traditional wooden fishing boat, brings guests to the resort’s two venues at Fari Marina Village. Arabesque is a tribute to a traditional Bedouin tent, featuring a menu that takes diners on a journey from Lebanon to North India. Tum Tum is a food truck serving light Asian fare.

Experiences offered at the resort include adventures with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment Program. Activated for the first time in Asia-Pacific, it highlights the culture and ecosystem of the destination through immersive experiences such as cooking classes, bike safaris, and a “Wonders of Water” ocean mystery program facilitated by one of its resident naturalists.

Other amenities include a dive center, a tennis program with coaching, and The Ritz-Carlton Spa with nine treatment rooms.