The Maldives' first dedicated wellbeing retreat, JOALI BEING, turns five this November, and it is marking the milestone with an unusual pairing: an Emirati pastry star and an ATP tennis professional, both in residence on the island.
The programme, called The Joy of Becoming, runs through November and builds towards a full day of celebrations on the 15th. First up is chef Sahar Al Awadhi, owner of Dubai's Abra Restaurant and named MENA's Best Pastry Chef in 2022 by MENA's 50 Best Restaurants. She is known for New Emirati Cuisine — reworking the flavours and stories of her heritage into modern cooking. From 20 to 23 October, she hosts an intimate pastry masterclass and a Signature Afternoon Tea with dessert pairing, and she is creating an exclusive anniversary dessert that blends Emirati technique with Maldivian ingredients, to be revealed at the birthday party itself.
Then, from 11 to 18 November, professional tennis player Roman Safiullin — career-high world No. 36 and a 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinalist — takes over the courts. Guests can hit with him, and on 13 November there is a dedicated Kids and Teens Tennis Workshop for younger players to learn from a touring pro.
The anniversary day on 15 November stacks up a full island itinerary: a morning run, coral planting on dedicated reef frames (a nice touch — the 'living legacy' sticks around long after checkout), a group Zumba session, tennis with Safiullin at sunset, and a beachside grill at MOJO Beach where Sahar's signature dessert makes its debut.
If you want in on the celebratory side of it, villas start from USD 2,442 per night for two people sharing an Ocean Pool Villa, breakfast included. That places JOALI BEING firmly at the top end of the Maldives market — this is a resort built entirely around wellness, movement and nutrition rather than a standard beach escape with a spa bolted on. For anyone already considering a serious wellbeing-focused holiday, the anniversary month is a rare chance to combine a stay with hands-on time from a top pastry chef and a Grand Slam-level player.
The residencies also say something about where Maldivian luxury is heading. Rather than relying solely on overwater villas and champagne, resorts in the country are increasingly importing names — chefs, athletes, marine biologists — to give guests something to actually do. Whether it is a pastry masterclass with regional star power or tennis drills on a private island court, the experience list is getting more hands-on.
Worth knowing if you are planning a trip: JOALI BEING sits on Muravandhoo island in the Raa Atoll, reached by seaplane from Malé. The anniversary events themselves are for guests on the island, so booking a November stay is the way to access them. The coral planting in particular is becoming a fixture of Maldivian resort programming and gives travellers a genuinely useful way to give something back to the reef they came to see.
