Top Maldives Resorts Honored at World Travel Awards 2024!

Maldives has been shining at the World Travel Awards (WTA), especially in the last few years. The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 and soon became the global awards program. The award program recognises excellence in the travel and tourism industry, and note-worthy destinations such as the Maldives take home honourable titles each year. Just like 2023, Maldives resorts won an impressive number of titles in the WTA Indian Ocean category. These amazing resorts took home some new titles as well as some repeated titles. Here are all the Maldives resorts that shone during the World Travel Awards 2024!

Lily Beach Resort & Spa – Maldives’ Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2024

This year Lily Beach Resort & Spa took home the title of Maldives leading all-inclusive resort yet again. This is not the first time that Lily Beach Resort & Spa won this title. The resort has been winning this prestigious title consecutively since 2016! The resort is well known for its award-winning all-inclusive platinum plan, which has made it popular among travellers.

Diamonds Thudufushi – Maldives’ Leading Beach Resort 2024

Maldives is a destination known for its beautiful beaches, and it appears that Diamonds Thudufushi might feature the most beautiful beaches. This resort has been taking home the title of Maldives’ leading beach resort since 2018! Guests can explore these pristine beaches, located just 20 minutes by seaplane. This Maldives paradise is surrounded by untouched nature, ready to welcome guests who are really looking for a beachy summer getaway.

Huvafen Fushi Maldives – Maldives’ Leading Boutique Resort 2024

This year, Huvafen Fushi Maldives won the title of Maldives’ leading boutique resort category. Prior to this, the resort also won the Indian Ocean’s leading luxury water villa category back in 2016. If you’re looking for a little boutique getaway, Huvafen Fushi Maldives resort is where your dreams will become your days! This is the second time the resort has won this title at the World Travel Awards show.

Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives – Maldives’ Leading Family Resort 2024

Over the years, the Maldives has become a popular destination for family travellers. If there’s a place to make memories you will cherish forever, it might be Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives. The resort has been winning the Maldives’ leading family resort title since 2020, making it the perfect spot for a family trip. This slice of tropical paradise, located in Lhaviyani Atoll is the perfect blend of luxury, adventure and lush greenery to spend a summer with your family.

Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu – Maldives’ Leading Green Resort 2024

As sustainability becomes the focus, many Maldives resorts have moved towards greener practices as well. Over the years, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu has picked up on quite a bit of green initiatives, leading to garnering the title of Maldives’ leading green resort this year. This is the second consecutive year that Coco Plam Dhuni Kolhu has won this title at WTA. Some of the resort’s biggest green initiatives include being a nesting site for green sea turtles and rescuing and rehabilitating turtles among the on-resort practices as well.

Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa – Maldives’ Leading Honeymoon Resort 2024

If 2023 and 2024 have proved anything, it’s that there is no Maldives resort like Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa for a honeymoon spot. This Maldives resort has taken home the title for two years in a row! Whether it’s the signature collection villas that are surrounded by lush greenery and amazing interiors, or the gourmet culinary experiences, this Maldives resort is honeymooners approved!

Vakkaru Maldives – Maldives’ Leading Hotel Suite

This year Vakkaru Maldives’ Vakkaru Over Water Residences won the title for Maldives’ leading hotel suite. What makes the Vakkaru Over Water Residence so special? This is one of the largest overwater residences in the Maldives. Not only do travellers get privacy and tranquility but also amazing ocean and sunset views. Additionally, guests can also enjoy an infinity pool in this amazing villa along with a dedicated chef on standby.

Royal RESERVE @ OZEN RESERVE Bolifushi – Maldives’ Leading Luxury Hotel Villa

If you’re visiting OZEN RESERVE Bolifushi, book your stay at the Royal Reserve for some of the most luxurious villas. This luxury abode houses guest villas and private pools where resident hosts can regale their friends and family. The villa can host 6 to 7 adults and 3 children. This lavish sanctuary is made better with exquisite champagnes and an elegantly sumptuous floating breakfast. The Royal Reserve @ OZEN RESERVE Bolifushi won this title for the second consecutive year as well.

Cheval Blanc Randheli – Maldives’ Leading Luxury Island Resort 2024

Cheval Blanc Randheli took home the title for Maldives’ leading luxury island resort this year at WTA. This is a resort well-known by travellers looking for a luxury getaway. Known as the hushed haven of the Maldives, Cheval Blanc Randheli offers luxury villas, amazing culinary experiences, wellness & relaxation as well as fun activities for kids. In 2019 & 2020, Cheval Blanc Randheli also won the title for Maldives’ leading luxury villa resort.

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort – Maldives’ Leading Luxury Resort

This year The St. Regis Maldives won the title not only for Maldives’ leading luxury resort but also for Indian Ocean’s leading luxury resort title as well. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has been taking home honourable titles every single year since 2017. This property by Marriott Bonvoy continues to bring travellers serenity in style, making it one of the ultimate Maldives luxury resorts to visit.

Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa – Maldives’ Leading Luxury Villa Resort 2024

Emerald Maldives resort has been shining at the World Travel Awards since 2020. Each year, the resort takes home an honourable title. This year, Emerald Maldives won the title of Maldives’ leading luxury villa resort. The resort has won this title in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as well. In addition to the WTA awards, the resort has also won Travelers’ Choice awards, Travelers Review Awards as well as GBAC Star Faculty Award.

Varu by Atmosphere – Maldives’ Leading Resort 2024

Varu by Atmosphere has really marked itself in the tourism industry in 2023 & 2024 by winning the title of Maldives’ leading resort at the World Travel Awards two years in a row. This beautiful Maldives resort brings travellers a natural Maldivian escape. Not only is this dreamy island escape surrounded by uninterrupted blues, but you can also enjoy an intimate yet larger-than-life and heartwarming hospitality. Located just 40 minutes by speedboat, Varu by Atmosphere offers a blend of cultural elements with contemporary elegance.

Constance Halaveli – Maldives’ Leading Villa Resort 2024

Constance Halaveli has been taking home the title of Maldives’ Leading Villa Resort since 2019. What makes the Villas at Constance Halaveli so amazing? Located just 25 minutes by seaplane, this beautiful Maldives resort offers a 5-star Maldives experience. Every villa category from the water villa to the beach villa offers the charm of sea and sand. Here, travellers can enjoy amazing views of the Indian Ocean and the charming white sandy beaches of the Maldives.

Baros Maldives – Maldives’ Leading Water Villa Resort 2024

Baros Maldives is yet another remarkable resort that has been shining at the World Travel Awards each year. After winning the title of World’s most romantic resort in 2023, this year the resort won the title of Maldives’ leading water villa resort. The water villas at Baros Maldives offer direct lagoon access, as well as sun loungers and dedicated 24-hour villa hosts. The luxurious furnishing and bespoke artwork add to this beautiful villa category, which already has a welcoming ambience.

Dubai plans to redefine the travel experience for millions and reshape its geography by retiring one of its most iconic institutions: Dubai International Airport (DXB). Once a symbol of the city’s meteoric rise, DXB now nears closure as Dubai shifts its aviation ambitions to a colossal new home, Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).

For decades, DXB has played a central role in global air travel, processing over 90 million passengers annually and serving as the beating heart of international connections between East and West. However, the airport’s legacy as the world’s busiest international hub approaches its final chapter. Why? Because Dubai envisions a future defined by space, scale, and a bold new concept of travel and urban life.

Why Close the World’s Busiest International Airport?

The answer lies 45 kilometers south in the desert sands of Dubai South, where Dubai is building a new mega-airport. Al Maktoum International, already partially operational, will become the world’s largest airport. When completed, it will feature five runways, 400 aircraft gates, and the capacity to handle 260 million passengers each year.

Unlike DXB, which dense neighborhoods in Garhoud and Al Qusais confine, DWC gives Dubai room to grow. In contrast, the new site offers scalability and flexibility. The project doesn’t just expand the city’s capacity—it reimagines it. Sleek architecture, cutting-edge technology, and integrated logistics with nearby Jebel Ali Port will ultimately deliver a smoother, more efficient experience for travelers and cargo alike.

Dubai isn’t just chasing numbers; rather, it’s planning for longevity. DXB, built in 1960, continues to age. Its infrastructure nears the end of its useful life. Keeping it operational would force the city to invest billions just to preserve the status quo. Dubai chooses a clean slate.

What Will Happen to the Land?

By closing DXB, Dubai unlocks a massive piece of prime real estate in its urban core. While officials haven’t announced exact redevelopment plans, they’ve opened the door to limitless possibilities. Think residential neighborhoods, parks, commercial centers—a brand-new district rising where runways once lay.

In fact, this transformation reflects the evolution seen in other global cities. Hong Kong, for instance, turned its former Kai Tak Airport into a thriving urban hub. Dubai plans to do the same—only on a larger scale.

When Is This Happening?

The shift won’t happen overnight. Dubai expects the transition to unfold over multiple decades. The first new terminal at Al Maktoum will open in 2032, and officials aim for full capacity between the late 2030s and the 2050s. Until then, DXB will keep serving passengers as Dubai phases in the move to DWC—starting with cargo and low-cost carriers, followed by flagship airlines like Emirates.

Travelers flying to and from Dubai will experience business as usual, for now. But the city has already set the change in motion, and soon, its skyline and story will look very different.

The Bigger Picture

Dubai has never hesitated to reinvent itself. It has transformed from sand dunes to skyscrapers, from a sleepy fishing village into a global metropolis. The closure of DXB doesn’t mark a loss; it signals a pivot. This moment reflects Dubai’s faith in the future, its bold planning, and its relentless drive to build bigger and better.

Unlike most cities, which adapt to their airports, Dubai is flipping the script. The city isn’t just designing an airport for tomorrow; it’s designing an entire city around it.

Feature Image via Arabian Business