Joali Being, a wellness resort in the Maldives, is launching new residences

When Joali Maldives opened its doors in 2018, it quickly became one of the chicest private island resorts in the region. Then when its sister property, wellness-centered Joali creatureopened in late 2021 on a neighboring island, it piqued the interest of Joali loyalists hoping to experience something a little more immersive and permanent.

The Maldives has its fair share of global hotel brands, but Turkish entrepreneur Esin Güral Argat sought to create a boutique resort experience that highlighted the joy of living and reconnecting with nature. With only 73 accommodations at Joali and 68 at Joali Being, each resort offers an intimate travel experience. A 45-minute seaplane ride from the island nation’s capital, Malé, Argat developed the first property on Muravandhoo Island, and Joali is on Bodufushi Island, just a 30-minute boat ride away, in the remote Raa Atoll.

“When I first introduced Joali in 2018, I envisioned creating a luxury lifestyle brand with a soul,” says Argat Robb report. “The design and architecture of the resort, combined with the warm hospitality, created a sense of community in itself, resulting in over 35% of guests being repeat customers. They travel several times a year from all over the world with their families, making Joali their second home, which inspired me to launch Joali Island Homes, a rare opportunity to own your piece of Joali.”

With so many returning guests and high demand for long stays, residential options seemed like the next step in Joali’s journey. Scheduled for completion in 2025, Joali Island Homes will be located on Bodufushi as an extension of Joali Being. There will be only eight homes ranging from one to four bedroom homes; there will be four overwater bungalows and four villas on the beach. Prices start at $5 million for a one-bedroom home, while the largest homes are expected to fetch up to $24 million.

The homes are similar in design to Joali’s unique architectural style from a Turkish company Workshop 4n and the international design studio Autobahn. From the accommodations to the restaurants to the spa, the architecture highlights biophilic design principles with rounded structures, soft edges, thatched roofs and a purposeful use of natural materials such as wood and bamboo. The homes will be compatible with this design, but on an even larger scale.

Homes will range from just under 2,500 square feet to more than 18,000 square feet and feature cathedral-like ceilings, curved edges, a soft color palette and custom mosaic finishes. Water is a primary inspiration and each home, like Joali Being’s rooms, has a bright color palette of soft turquoise, light blue and light pink, hues seen in the sea and seashells. There are also cloud-like light fixtures and whipped curtains that give the room an ethereal feel.

Each home has a private pool and hot tub, a large sundeck, an outdoor shower, and a high-tech home operating system that remotely controls lights, temperature, and more. There are also floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the rooms with natural light and offer beach or ocean views.

The largest overwater bungalow is the four-bedroom Wellbeing Private Ocean Residence, which will also have a private sauna, treatment room and gym with Technogym equipment and a Pilates Cadillac reformer, while the largest beachfront villa is the three-bedroom Wellbeing Beach Residence, which includes a cabana and private sauna.

You are spoiled for choice with Joali Being’s facilities that rival some of the world’s most sophisticated spas. Created in collaboration with a Harvard-educated expert, the resort offers wellness journeys designed around four pillars: mind, skin, microbiome and energy. You can choose an immersive journey with the resort’s nutritionists, naturopaths and mind-body movement specialists, and consult with Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese physicians. There is also a sound healing room, Watsu basins, a Himalayan salt room, a cryotherapy chamber, an herbal laboratory and more. Or you can simply enjoy the more traditional spa offers and healthy cuisine.

Residents will also get special benefits at Joali Maldives if they want to enjoy some cocktails – Joali Being is relatively alcohol-free – or more adventurous activities.

Click here for more photos of Joali Island Homes.