JOALI BEING – Maldives’ 1st Wellbeing Resort

Imagine going to the most out-of-this-world island and being fully rejuvenated and restored.

JOALI BEING offers a whole 360-degree rebirth of your mind, body, soul, and spirit. Not only is the architecture and design both futuristic and chic, but the spa’s level of offering, treatments, and design is earth-shattering. It feels like what the spa would look like in Dune. The ethos of this spectacular place is to reach the feeling of weightlessness; achieving this state through tailor-made wellness programs that transform you from the inside out. Even before you arrive, you are given an assessment form to fill out – addressing your physical and mental concerns.

The image as you arrive from the eggshell blue JOALI seaplane is the pure white “The Gate of Zero” arrival jetty, designed by architect Autoban to emulate whirling dervishes.

The 68 overwater and beach villas assigned as your personal “wellbeing spaces” encourage you to leave your iPhone and computers outside your bedroom so you can switch off. There are games and instruments in your rooms, wellness bars, and all villas have access to the ocean – whether that’s walking past your private infinity pool directly onto the powder white sand beach or plunging directly into the ocean off your private deck overwater.

We were escorted by our private 24/7 butler, the “Jadugar”, Yasmeen who took us on a tour of the island’s incredible amenities. This exclusive island feels expansive with the most amazing multi-award winning spa in the Maldives Areka, Hydrotherapy Hall KAASHI, an herbology and aromatherapy space AKTAR, SEDA sound therapy room, the Sound Discovery Path, fresh herb garden, tennis & padel courts, Okyanus (Marine Biology Centre) where they rescue and rehabilitate turtles, Marine Centre (for water sports), B’Kidult kids area, Art House, Masion de JOALI (fashion boutique), and a jewellery store with gorgeous colourful gemstone jewels designed in Sri Lanka.

For culinary destinations, there are 3 main dining areas Yutori (Japanese), FLOW (international cuisines), and MOJO (Mediterranean) as well as a SAI tea lounge (where a tea expert understands the craft of tea making with over 70 specialty teas on offer.

With 350 staff from over 30 nationalities, the level of service at JOALI BEING is excellent.

Personalised Health Treatments

The wellness principles are based on The Four Pillars: Mind, Skin, Microbiome, and Energy. JOALI brings the top practitioners together to assess and define your physical and mental needs, curating a suggested program that will address each-and-every issue.

Areka is the epicentre of all spa experiences with 39 treatment rooms dotted around the island with a menu of international treatments provided by world-class practitioners. You can even especially book an over-water treatment room with views of the Indian Ocean.

Before the treatments, I took a 60-minute Integrative Lifestyle Assessment which uses a Mora Nova device. It’s a bioresonance machine that uses electrodes to assess the body’s electromagnetic information to pinpoint your physical and mental issues that you may be experiencing at that very moment in time. It was almost like being given a snapshot report of how your body and mind are feeling at that very moment – which, for me, was scarily accurate. This type of detailed wellness care is the best offering I have ever experienced in a spa facility.

There is an array of massages on offer to ease your physical and mental stresses, charcoal facials, body wraps, hair & scalp treatments, Hamman, and a fully comprehensive analysis of your face, body, skin, scalp, 3-D fitness, Intelligent Movement (D-Wall), alignment and lifestyle.

Within the Hydrotherapy Hall KAASHI, we experienced the truly weightless “Watsu” which was a relaxing Shiatsu, stretching, and almost dance-like movement treatment in a beautiful warm Turkish-designed mosaic bath with star-like lights twinkling on the ceiling.

One of the most beautiful rooms in KAASHI was the glowing alabaster-coloured Himalayan salt inhalation room. The pink/orange Himalayan Sea salt slabs were the rounded walls of this circular dome room with a centre ceiling light which felt like the sun at sunrise. The room was fresh-feeling, warm and peaceful.

I had a relaxing massage then was taken to sit on a hanging chair above the soft sand outside of AKTAR – the open-air aromatherapy and herbology hub. The staff served a bespoke tea that was tailored based on my lifestyle assessment. Later on, we would go back to Aktar to concoct our own aromatherapy oils with a mixture of scents – I chose Neroli (bitter orange), green tangerine, and cedarwood.

You can experience Sound Healing at SEDA – a sound therapy room filled with unique instruments. You can also stroll through the outdoor The Sound Discovery Path and play the 9 instruments in your own time surrounded by the seclusion of the trees.

For fitness, there is CORE – a gym which offers cryotherapy, and fitness classes such as kickboxing, yoga, and Pilates. Movement and sound healing classes are taken in LOTUS – a beautiful open room with surrounding floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking onto the trees.

The Founder, Esin Güral Argat

Turkish Businesswoman Esin Gural Argat is pioneering the way for wellness, women empowerment, and philanthropy. As the Vice President of the Board of Gürok Group, she is leading the creative process for the company’s leading brands such as LAV – the 5^th largest glass producer in the world, and Ali Bey Hotels and Resorts. She was appointed the first female Chamber of Commerce and Industry President in Turkey and Kütahya.

Argat’s support for philanthropic initiatives for women and girls is immense – from supporting female Maldivian artists through JOALI’s Women in Art, aligning with UN Women’s gender equality program with JOALI’s Leadership and Gender Diversity Programme, donating funds to Women in Tech Maldives & local Women’s Development Committees in the Maldives. Her support goes so much further, encompassing education and the environment.

EBM: How did you dream up JOALI and what were the steps to creating the 1st wellbeing resort in the Maldives?

Esin: JOALI was born from a very personal vision. I’ve always believed that true luxury is about meaning, connection, and inner peace — not just aesthetics. During my travels, I felt there was a missing piece in the global hospitality space: a destination that not only celebrates beauty but also nurtures the soul. That was the seed for JOALI.

The process began with a simple, yet bold idea — to create an immersive sanctuary where wellbeing is not an add-on, but the very foundation. For JOALI BEING, our journey started with deep research into ancient wisdom, modern science, and the natural rhythms of the Maldives. We brought together experts in wellness, nutrition, neuroscience, and design. Every element was intentional — from the sound architecture to the earth-friendly materials — and always rooted in respect for nature and local culture.

EBM: What do you think the future is for wellness, both for JOALI and globally?

Esin: Wellness is no longer a trend — it’s a necessity. The pandemic reminded us that health is our true wealth, and people are now seeking more than just relaxation. They want transformation.

At JOALI, we’re leading this shift by offering deeply personalised wellbeing journeys — whether it’s through movement, mindfulness, energy healing, or nutrition. We see wellness becoming more holistic and integrated, blending technology with ancestral knowledge, and science with soul.

Globally, I believe wellness will touch every aspect of life — from how we design cities to how we work, parent, and grow older. It’s not just about spa treatments anymore. It’s about conscious living.

EBM: How do you incorporate wellbeing into your own daily life?

Esin: For me, wellbeing is a way of being — not something I schedule, but something I weave into how I live and lead. I start each day with a moment of silence or meditation, even if just for a few minutes. Breathwork and long walks in nature are also two routines I regularly incorporate into my day — they help me recharge and feel grounded. When I feel overwhelmed or want to boost my energy, breathwork is my go-to practice.

I also try to eat mindfully and stay physically active — even when I’m traveling. Mental wellbeing is just as important to me; if I don’t have the right environment to meditate or take a walk, even spending five quiet minutes alone makes a big difference and helps me detach from stress.

And I make room for play — for example, I enjoy playing word games, especially before bed, as it helps me unwind and clear my mind.

As a leader, I bring this perspective into the workplace as well. I believe wellbeing isn’t just personal — it’s cultural. The energy we bring into the room matters, and I strive to create a work environment where people feel supported, balanced, and inspired.

EBM: The architecture and interior design are gorgeous – how much input did you have in the creative process?

Esin: Thank you — I’m so glad you feel that way! I was deeply involved in every aspect of JOALI’s design, from the overall concept to the smallest detail. For me, space has the power to shift emotions, and I wanted every corner of JOALI to evoke inspiration, serenity, and beauty.

We collaborated with incredible designers like Autoban and Studio Glitt, but the direction was always very personal. I wanted the architecture to reflect harmony with nature, and the interiors to feel soulful — not just stylish. Everything, from the curves of the villas to the handcrafted details, was guided by a philosophy of “joy of living.”

EBM: JOALI has the biggest percentage of female staff out of any resort in the Maldives – how important is female empowerment for you and what are the things you are doing to help support women in the Maldives and globally?

Esin: Female empowerment is at the heart of everything I do — not just at JOALI, but across all our businesses and platforms. It’s not enough to talk about equality; we need to build systems that truly support women.

At JOALI, we’re proud to have the highest ratio of female staff in the Maldives, and it’s something we worked hard to achieve. That includes mentorship programs, leadership training, and creating a safe, inclusive environment where women can thrive — from housekeeping to management roles.

Globally, I advocate for women in business through my involvement with organisations like TÜSİAD and KAGİDER. I believe empowered women empower communities, and it’s our responsibility to keep opening those doors.

In addition, as the Vice President of the Board of Gürok Group, which includes JOALI within its structure, one of the strongest pillars of our transformation vision is placing diversity and inclusion at the heart of our human resources strategy. Our firm stance on women’s employment stands out not only through numerical indicators but also through a determined commitment to cultural transformation. We are taking on a pioneering role across various sectors by taking steps to increase the visibility and impact of women in our group’s different lines of business. From R&D to heavy industry, we actively support the empowerment of our female employees. At LAV, female shift supervisors, and at GCA, female welders and forklift operators have become groundbreaking examples in terms of gender balance in industry.

EBM: Sustainability and the environment are deeply woven into JOALI’s infrastructure – what are the most important sustainable aspects of the island that set you apart from your competition?

Esin: Sustainability is not an afterthought for us — it’s embedded in the DNA of JOALI. From the very beginning, we committed to developing our islands with the lightest possible footprint.

We avoided cutting down any mature trees during construction and integrated existing flora into our architecture. Our villas are built with responsibly sourced materials, and we invest heavily in waste management, coral regeneration, solar energy, and local sourcing.

But what truly sets us apart is our “mindful luxury” approach — we inspire guests to participate in sustainability, not just observe it. Whether it’s through our Zero Waste Journeys or marine conservation projects, we want people to leave not just rested, but more conscious.

EBM: There is a big focus on art throughout both JOALI MALDIVES and JOALI BEING – how do your curators choose the artists and why do you feel showcasing physical art pieces is important?

Esin: Art is a language that connects us beyond borders, and it’s always been a passion of mine. At JOALI, we see art as a medium for storytelling, healing, and sparking emotion. That’s why we created JOALI Art Studio & Gallery and work closely with curators to select artists from around the world.

We look for pieces that resonate with the soul of the island — those that speak to nature, femininity, resilience, and joy. Many works are site-specific, blending seamlessly with the landscape. Others are interactive, inviting guests to pause, reflect, or even co-create.

By integrating art into the fabric of the resort, we hope to inspire not just the eye, but the spirit.

JOALI BEING

Bodufushi Island, Raa Atoll, Maldives

+960 658 4444

[email protected]

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