Soneva, the resorts operator behind Soneva Fushi, which was placed seventh on the first World's 50 Best Hotels list last night, is opening another, ultra-luxe property next year.
Soneva Secret, located in Haa Dhaalu, one of the most remote atolls in the Maldives, is set to officially launch in January, with bookings now open. It can be reached by a 75-minute seaplane flight from Velana International Airport in Male, or guests can fly into Kulhudhuffushi Airport on the atoll and take a one-hour speedboat ride to the resort.
The exclusive property has only 14 beach and overwater villas. This includes the lagoon Crusoe, which is only accessible by boat, and a floating villa called the Castaway.
The group says it's been 30 years in the making and is set to focus on personalised service amid unspoilt natural surroundings.
Each of the villas offers direct access to the beach or lagoon. They encompass master suites, adjoining bedrooms, gyms and spa treatment rooms, as well as a sliding roof that can be opened so guests can see the sunny sky during the day or stargaze at night.
Bookings also come with a dedicated Barefoot Guardian and Barefoot Assistant, who will curate a personalised stay, including "one-of-a-kind" experiences for every guest.
Every villa also comes with a private chef, who will curate bespoke dishes that can be eaten in the villa or in choice spots around the island.
There are also a number of dining outlets, including Out of This World, which is described as a "castaway dining tower, observatory and wine cellar" located in the lagoon and reachable by zip-line. Then there's the firepit dining experience called So Primitive and casual lounge venue The Living Room, which is also a library and boutique, as well as home to ice cream, chocolate, and cheese and charcuterie rooms, where treats are complimentary.
A marine biologist will lead guided snorkelling sessions where guests can see manta rays, dolphins, whale sharks and more, while a resident astronomer will offer visitors lessons on how to navigate the night skies.
This will be the fourth property from Soneva, which focuses on sustainable and luxurious experiences. Alongside Soneva Fushi, which is on the Maldives' largest island, the Baa Atoll, a Unesco-protected biosphere reserve, there's Soneva Jani on the Noonu atoll and Soneva Kiri, located in a rainforest in Thailand.
The group also has a 23-metre private charter yacht in the Maldives called Soneva in Aqua.
It's all the brainchild of hoteliers Sonu Shivdasani and Eva Malmstrom Shivdasani, who opened Soneva Fushi in 1995, the same year they launched the Six Senses Resorts & Spas brand. Sonu is so renowned in the hospitality field today, World's 50 Best on Tuesday awarded him their inaugural SevenRooms Icon Award, the only one given to an individual as opposed to a property.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
