Maldives resort pipeline 2026 Q4: 162 islands leased for new resorts, 96 resort projects filed in a year

The Maldives has 178 resorts with 22,336 rooms in its tourism register, and a further 162 islands and lagoon plots leased for resort development, according to the Maldives Resort Register's 2026 Q4 review of public registers and environmental filings.

In the 12 months to 15 November 2026, 96 resort projects went through environmental filing, in line with 100 in the 12 months before. 40 were for new resorts, 22 for redevelopments, upgrades or expansions of existing resorts, 5 for water villas and 18 for beach and coastal protection.

The register tracks 26 named resort projects. 20 have a stated opening target, 13 of them for 2027, and 7 are at site works, construction or pre-opening stage.

Kaafu, the atoll around Malé, holds 58 of the country's resorts and 49 of the development plots. Thaa, Laamu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Haa Alifu, Faafu and Shaviyani have at least twice as many development plots as operating resorts.

Environmental filings are among the earliest public signs of resort construction in the Maldives. A filing is not an approval, and opening dates are the brands' own targets.

Full statistics by atoll · All projects · Free report (PDF)

Source: Maldives Resort Register, compiled from public registers, environmental filings and announcements. Free to quote with a link.