Aman’s Maldives debut will dedicate an island to wellness
Opening in 2028, Amanolu is planned as a 52-key resort with 16 private residences in the Vaavu Atoll, including five-bedroom homes occupying individual islands.
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Aman has named its first Maldives destination Amanolu, setting the stage for a 2028 opening in the comparatively secluded Vaavu Atoll.
The name combines Aman—Sanskrit for peace—with “Olu”, inspired by the water lily. It is a fitting identity for a project intended to extend the brand’s restrained approach to luxury across a private-island setting.
Current plans describe a 52-key resort and 16 Aman Residences. The residential proposition is extraordinary even by Maldives standards: each five-bedroom home is expected to occupy its own private island, with a 25-metre swimming pool and private jetty.
The resort is also expected to devote an entire island to wellness. That physical separation could allow treatments, movement and restoration programs to operate away from the social energy of the main resort, although the exact facilities and practitioner program should be confirmed as the opening approaches.
Vaavu Atoll offers a different context from the archipelago’s more intensively developed resort regions. Its appeal rests on marine environment, privacy and the sensation of remoteness. Access, transfer times and seasonal conditions will therefore form an important part of the guest experience.
For prospective residence owners, the romance of a private island comes with a demanding operational model. Marine infrastructure, utilities, staffing, maintenance, insurance, management fees and resale provisions require close scrutiny. Ownership structure and local legal rights should be assessed with specialist advisers.
Amanolu also enters a competitive field. The Maldives already contains some of the world’s most ambitious resorts, so novelty cannot rest on an overwater villa alone. Aman’s opportunity is to translate its signature privacy, spatial calm and service into a destination where the physical landscape is already spectacular.
With opening still two years away, design, pricing, booking dates and residence availability may change. For now, Amanolu’s most compelling promise is radical separation: fewer keys, a dedicated wellness island and residences that turn the idea of a private island from marketing language into a literal address.
Fact box
Resort: Amanolu
Location: Vaavu Atoll, Maldives
Expected opening: 2028
Resort scale: 52 keys
Residences: 16 private homes
Residence concept: Five bedrooms, 25-metre pool and private jetty; each reportedly on its own island
Wellness: Dedicated island planned
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Four decks, 34.5 metres and a made-to-measure interior: step aboard the new Custom Line Navetta 35, unveiled at Cannes.
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The most compelling modern yachts increasingly borrow from residential architecture: clearer circulation, larger windows and outdoor rooms that feel genuinely connected to the interior. Custom Line’s new Navetta 35, given its world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival, pushes that idea across four decks.
At 34.5 metres long with a beam of 7.7 metres, the yacht is the new entry point to Custom Line’s displacement range. Its scale is substantial enough to create distinct private, social and service zones, yet remains below the dimensions of the yard’s larger custom superyachts.
The exterior was developed through Ferretti Group’s Strategic Product Committee and Engineering Department, while Custom Line Atelier supervised the interior definition and owner personalisation. That made-to-measure process is central to the brand: layouts, materials, furniture and artwork can be shaped around how an owner intends to use the yacht rather than applied as a fixed decorative package.
Outdoor living is distributed across the vessel rather than concentrated at the stern. The beach club brings guests close to the water; the main and upper decks provide protected entertaining areas; and the sun deck creates a more private elevated retreat. The design seeks to preserve open sightlines, allowing sea views to run through social spaces and reducing the sense of division between saloon and terrace.
The Navetta designation signals a displacement yacht intended for composed, efficient cruising rather than outright speed. For owners, the appeal lies in range, comfort and the ability to spend longer periods aboard. Technical specifications, engine options, range and top speed should be confirmed against the final shipyard data for the displayed hull.
What can be seen is a continuation of Custom Line’s preference for quiet sophistication. Instead of decorating every surface, the interior architecture uses proportion, natural light and carefully selected materials to carry the experience. Built-in pieces establish structure, while freestanding furniture and art allow an owner’s personality to emerge.
The debut also arrives during Custom Line’s 30th anniversary year. Since its foundation, the marque says it has delivered more than 300 made-to-measure yachts. The Navetta 35 is therefore both a new model and a statement about what the next chapter should look like: more openness, closer contact with the water and customisation that goes beyond choosing finishes.
At Cannes, where new models compete for attention metre by metre, the Navetta 35’s proposition is relatively restrained. It is not trying to look like the fastest boat in the marina. It is designed to feel like a highly private waterfront home — one capable of moving when the owner wants a different view.
Yacht snapshot
– Model: Custom Line Navetta 35
– Type: Displacement superyacht
– Length: 34.5 metres
– Beam: 7.7 metres
– Decks: Four
– Debut: Cannes Yachting Festival, 8–13 September 2026
– Builder: Custom Line, Ferretti Group
– Price: On application
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