The Amanolu resort will be Aman’s first in the Maldives, opening in 2028 with 16 private-island residences

On 23 September 2026, Aman revealed the name of its first resort in the Maldives: Amanolu, in Vaavu Atoll, now due to open in 2028. The project will bring together 52 keys and 16 five-bedroom residences, each set on its own private island, alongside one island devoted to wellbeing and another to water sports.

Amanolu, a name between peace and water lily

The name replaces ‘Aman Maldives’, the working title used since the project was announced in 2024. It combines Aman, a Sanskrit word meaning ‘peace’, with Olu, inspired by the water lily, which the brand presents as a symbol of serenity and renewal and of a bond with nature. On the official website, the Amanolu page currently reads ‘Coming soon’.

Vaavu: 52 keys designed by KHA

The resort will have 52 keys, a scale the brand describes as intimate. The architecture has been entrusted to KHA (Kerry Hill Architects), a long-standing Aman collaborator whose signature is restraint and simplicity, with the line between indoors and outdoors all but erased.

When construction began in 2024, Aman described one- to three-bedroom pavilions with private pools, as shown in the renderings above. The breakdown of the 52 keys was not detailed in the 2026 announcement, and the design may have changed since.

Every residence gets its own private island

Alongside the hotel, the brand is developing 16 Aman Residences homes, five-bedroom houses that will each occupy their own private island. Some will face the sunrise, others the sunset; the rest, fringed by beach on both sides, will enjoy views from dawn to dusk.

Each residence island will have generous indoor and outdoor living spaces, a 25-metre pool, staff quarters and a private jetty. Owners will have access to the resort’s restaurants, wellbeing facilities and activities, with Aman service. An enquiry form is already live on the brand’s website.

One island for the spa, another for the sea

Amanolu will be spread across several islands, each with its own purpose. The wellbeing island will house an Aman Spa and the brand’s Spa Houses, while an activity island will be devoted to diving, snorkelling, water sports and marine exploration.

Dining will draw on Aman’s culinary concepts, whose names have not yet been announced, and spaces will be designed for families. To compare with the addresses already open in the archipelago, see our pick of the best hotels in the Maldives.

When will Amanolu open?

In September 2024, Aman announced the start of construction on ‘Aman Maldives’ in Vaavu Atoll, with opening then targeted for 2027. The press release of 23 September 2026 now sets the opening of both the resort and the residences for 2028. The residences, announced at the time with five to ten bedrooms, all have five in the current presentation.

At that first announcement, Vlad Doronin, Aman’s Chairman and CEO, spoke of an important milestone for the brand, which will bring its ethos of timeless elegance, service and privacy to the Maldives for the first time.

36 Aman addresses across 21 destinations

With Amanolu, Aman’s portfolio reaches 36 hotels, resorts and residences across 21 destinations, according to the brand’s press release. No rates have been published and bookings are not yet open. For 2028, Aman is also preparing two private-jet expeditions with Remote Lands. In the Maldives, the Kandooma Maldives resort has just left Holiday Inn for all-inclusive.