The Maldives is preparing for one of the fastest tourism expansions in its history, with dozens of luxury resorts, branded residences, private islands, and major infrastructure projects expected to reshape the country over the next several years.
For decades, the Maldives built its global reputation on a simple formula: turquoise lagoons, white-sand beaches, and overwater villas offering privacy unlike anywhere else in the world. Today, however, the country’s tourism industry is evolving into something much larger.
International hospitality giants including Bulgari, Mandarin Oriental, Nobu, Rosewood, Aman, Hyatt, Capella, Baccarat, Atlantis, and Trump are investing heavily in new projects across the archipelago. At the same time, new airports, expanding aviation networks, and luxury residential developments are opening previously untouched atolls to international travelers and investors.
The shift comes as the Maldives recorded a historic 2.3 million tourist arrivals in 2025, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s most sought-after luxury destinations.
Major Resort Openings Expected in 2026
The year 2026 is expected to bring one of the largest waves of luxury resort openings the Maldives has ever seen.
Bulgari Resort Ranfushi
Among the most anticipated arrivals is Bulgari Resort Ranfushi in Raa Atoll. Developed by the Italian luxury house, the resort will feature 54 villas, including beachfront residences, overwater villas, and an exclusive private-island Bulgari Villa.
The property is expected to become one of the country’s most exclusive addresses, combining contemporary Italian design with Michelin-starred dining concepts led by internationally recognized chefs.
Mandarin Oriental Bolidhuffaru Reef Resort
Mandarin Oriental’s long-awaited Maldives debut will span three private islands in South Malé Atoll.
The resort will offer 120 villas positioned across beaches and lagoons, along with one of the largest wellness facilities in the Indian Ocean. Located only 20 minutes from Velana International Airport by speedboat, the property combines large-scale luxury with rare accessibility.
Mondrian Maldives
In Noonu Atoll, Mondrian Maldives will introduce a more social and lifestyle-driven concept to a destination traditionally associated with privacy and seclusion.
The project includes more than 100 beach and overwater villas, private residences, restaurants, bars, and gathering spaces designed around a vibrant resort atmosphere rather than complete isolation.
Meliá Whale Lagoon Maldives
Spanish hotel group Meliá will launch its first Maldivian property in Ari Atoll.
The resort will feature 100 villas, multiple restaurants, wellness facilities, infinity pools, and direct access to one of the country’s most famous whale shark habitats, adding marine experiences to its luxury offering.
Rah Gili Maldives
Developed by Six & Six Private Islands, Rah Gili aims to place Maldivian culture at the center of the guest experience.
Located near a protected dolphin sanctuary in South Malé Atoll, the resort incorporates local traditions, community participation, traditional performances, and authentic island heritage into its concept, offering an alternative to internationally standardized luxury resorts.
Don Maaga Maldives
Six & Six’s second development targets the ultra-luxury market with some of the largest water villas ever built in the Maldives.
The project includes oversized residences, private island buyout options, and large-scale villas designed for long stays and high-end ownership experiences.
Vaagali Maldives, Vignette Collection
IHG’s Vignette Collection will enter the Maldives with Vaagali Maldives in South Malé Atoll.
The boutique property will feature 52 villas and focus on wellness, local experiences, and intimate island living, while remaining only a short speedboat ride from the airport.
Aura Maldives
Located in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Aura Maldives will focus heavily on nature, marine life, and environmental experiences.
The 71-villa resort will provide access to manta ray encounters and the famous Hanifaru Bay ecosystem, one of the Maldives’ most important marine attractions.
The Class of 2027
If 2026 marks a major expansion, 2027 is expected to bring an even more ambitious collection of luxury openings.
Rosewood Ranfaru
Rosewood’s first Maldives property will open in South Malé Atoll with 120 beachfront and overwater villas.
The resort will feature the brand’s signature destination-focused philosophy, along with wellness facilities, family-oriented experiences, and luxury dining concepts designed to reflect the surrounding environment.
Hyatt Regency Samarafushi Maldives
Hyatt will officially enter the Maldivian resort market with Samarafushi in North Malé Atoll.
The project includes 130 private pool villas, multiple restaurants, and an underwater dining venue, signaling the brand’s effort to appeal to a wider luxury audience beyond honeymoon travelers.
Capella Maldives
Located within the Fari Islands development, Capella Maldives will stand out through its architecture.
Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the resort will feature 57 villas and mansions, private infinity pools, wellness facilities, and carefully integrated landscape design that blends into its island surroundings.
Baccarat Hotel & Residences Maldives
Baccarat’s Maldives project will stretch across five interconnected islands in South Malé Atoll.
Alongside luxury hotel accommodations, the development will include 62 branded residences, further strengthening the Maldives’ rapidly growing second-home market aimed at ultra-high-net-worth buyers.
Nobu Hotel and Residences Maldives
Set in Laamu Atoll, Nobu Maldives will combine luxury accommodation with the internationally recognized Nobu dining experience.
The project includes beach villas, overwater villas, and private-island residences, while bringing the brand’s signature Japanese-Peruvian culinary identity to one of the country’s most remote luxury destinations.
2028 and Beyond: The Mega Projects That Could Redefine the Maldives
While 2026 and 2027 are expected to bring a wave of luxury resort openings, some of the country’s largest and most ambitious developments are planned for 2028 and beyond.
Aman Maldives
Among the most anticipated projects is Aman Maldives, a private-island development that is expected to become one of the country’s most exclusive destinations.
Designed by Kerry Hill Architects, the project will include a 52-room ultra-luxury resort alongside 16 Aman Residences, with each residence offering between five and ten bedrooms. Aman has spent years searching for the right Maldivian location, and once completed, the property is expected to rank among the most expensive resorts in the Indian Ocean.
Corinthia Maldives
Scheduled to open in Kaafu Atoll in 2028, Corinthia Maldives will spread across two islands, one housing the main resort and another dedicated to a more private residential experience.
The project will feature 85 guest accommodations and 10 residential villas. Its architecture takes inspiration from manta rays, with sweeping structures designed to mirror the movement and shape of the marine species found throughout Maldivian waters.
Nammos Resort Maldives
Known internationally for its beach club in Mykonos, Nammos is bringing its Mediterranean luxury lifestyle concept to the Maldives.
The resort will be built on a private island and include seven branded island villas, 17 water villas, 24 beach villas, a signature Nammos restaurant, and a wellness spa. Superyacht culture, beach-club energy, and luxury island living are expected to form the core of the resort’s identity.
Trump International Hotel Maldives
One of the most talked-about projects in the pipeline is Trump International Hotel Maldives, which is planned to open in late 2028.
Developed by Dar Global, the project will include 80 ultra-luxury beach and overwater villas, private residences, and hospitality facilities aimed at the high-end international market. The development has attracted attention not only because of the Trump brand but also because it is being promoted as the world’s first tokenized luxury hotel project, introducing blockchain-linked investment opportunities into Maldivian resort development.
Chedi Maldives
Chedi Hospitality’s first Maldivian resort will bring the brand’s minimalist luxury approach to the country.
The boutique property is expected to feature beachfront villas, overwater accommodations, and a limited collection of branded residences designed for buyers seeking long-term ownership opportunities within a smaller, more intimate resort environment.
Fusion Resort Maldives
Fusion Hotel Group will make its Indian Ocean debut with Fusion Resort Maldives in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.
The wellness-focused development will feature 185 villas, branded residences, overwater spa facilities, and dining venues built around a large natural lagoon. The project is also being marketed around environmental preservation, with developers limiting land reclamation to protect surrounding marine ecosystems.
Atlantis The Royal Maldives
Perhaps the most ambitious project announced so far is Atlantis The Royal Maldives, expected to open in 2029.
Developed by Kerzner International, the mega-resort will stretch across multiple islands in South Malé Atoll and include 493 rooms, villas, and mansions. Plans also feature underwater villas, more than 20 restaurants, beach clubs, wellness facilities, sports attractions, an aquarium experience, and a large-scale waterpark.
Unlike many traditional Maldivian resorts that focus on privacy and seclusion, Atlantis The Royal Maldives is being designed as a destination resort aimed at families, groups, and travelers seeking entertainment-driven luxury experiences. Industry observers see the project as one of the clearest signs of how rapidly the Maldives tourism model is evolving.
Airports Are Opening New Regions
Tourism growth is being supported by major infrastructure upgrades across the country.
The expansion of Hanimaadhoo International Airport in the northern Maldives has made direct international access to northern atolls possible for the first time on a large scale. Additional airport projects planned across the archipelago are expected to unlock new areas for resort development and reduce travel times for visitors.
Developers who once focused primarily on North and South Malé Atolls are now exploring opportunities in increasingly remote regions as accessibility improves.
Growth, Investment and the Future of Paradise
The Maldives is no longer developing only as a luxury holiday destination. Increasingly, it is becoming a global market for branded residences, private island ownership, lifestyle investments, and long-term second homes.
New regulations allowing the sale of individual villas and residences have accelerated interest from wealthy international buyers, while billions of dollars in foreign investment continue flowing into tourism and real estate projects.
Yet the country’s biggest challenge may not be attracting visitors or investors. It may be preserving the qualities that made the Maldives famous in the first place.
Every new airport, marina, resort, and residential development places additional pressure on fragile coral reefs, limited land resources, and ecosystems that remain highly vulnerable to climate change.
For generations, the Maldives has sold a simple dream: crystal-clear waters, isolated islands, and complete escape from the outside world. The next decade will reveal how much the country can grow before that original magic begins to change and whether the Maldives can balance rapid development with the preservation of the paradise that made it world famous.
