Orivaru: Maldives’ Island Paradise

A Maldivian Island has come on the market complete with building permits for a luxury hotel resort and spa.

Orivaru is a tropical island paradise in the northern Maldives covering an area of 14 hectares (34.6 acres) and is one of 71 islands forming the Noonu Atoll situated approximately 100 miles north of the Maldivian capital Male. Only 13 of the islands are inhabited the closest of which is home to a luxury Hilton resort and spa on the island of Minaavaru just 5 kilometres away.

The Maldives are an extremely popular destination for scuba diving and boast some of the finest corals and ocean life on earth. The romantic charm of the islands have been a favourite with honeymooning celebrities for decades with white sandy beaches and some of the most incredible sunsets over the Indian Ocean imaginable. Orivaru is no exception to this with a natural landscape covered in palms, rich vegetation and wildlife.

Planning permits issued by the Ministry of Tourism pave the way for a luxury island resort including 100 five star private rooms and water villas built around the islands coastline with integrated hotel facilities comprising restaurants, guest lounges, pools and a wellness spa. The island also features a natural port allowing boats and seaplanes to berth without interfering too much with the natural landscape.

Being the lowest lying country in the world with an average of just 1.5 metres of land above water, climate change and rising sea levels are obviously a big concern for the Maldivian government who are working toward becoming carbon neutral by 2020. The administration are already carrying out assessments for the introduction of wind power and with 15% of the country’s GDP spent on fossil fuels are determined to reduce the country’s reliance on diesel powered generators. Maldivian officials are also working in collaboration with Italian designer Michelle Puzzolante to assess the viability of floating resorts powered by solar energy.

The Maldivian registered owners are seeking offers in the region of 14 million dollars for their interest in the island and would be developers literally have a blank canvas to create a luxury resort. The island is held on a long leasehold from the Maldivian government although these are frequently renegotiated and extended. Debutesq Group director Alan O’Connor who is marketing the site says “being just 45 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport, this could no doubt become another very successful tourist destination. A Russian investor recently purchased an island in the northern Atolls for $65m so there is definitely a market out there.”