South Malé Atoll · 25 minutes by speedboat · Formerly Velassaru Maldives
Niva Velassaru
One of the easiest luxury islands to reach: 25 minutes by speedboat, day or night. Formerly Velassaru Maldives, it took the Niva name in January 2026. Expect a wide white beach, a huge shallow lagoon, 129 rooms, five restaurants and an overwater spa. Choose it for short stays and late flights; skip it if you want a tiny, secluded island.
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01A new name
If you are searching for Velassaru Maldives, this is the same island. On 15 January 2026 it became Niva Velassaru Maldives, one of the first resorts in Niva, the new lifestyle brand from Versa Hospitality, the company formerly known as Universal Resorts. Its sister island Dhigali became Niva Dhigali on the same day.
The villas, restaurants and team carried over. What the brand adds is a lighter, more social feel, with movement classes, morning cruises and sunset yoga built into the week.
02The island
Velassaru has one of the widest white-sand beaches in South Malé Atoll, and the lagoon around it is huge, shallow and an extraordinary range of blues. Overwater villas curve out on long jetties, the infinity pool sits beside the beach, and Sora stands over the water at the end of its own walkway.
It is a lively island by Maldives standards, with tennis under floodlights, a Pilates studio, onsite photographers and the Velassaru Living Gallery, but villas are spread out enough to feel calm.
03Villas
Pools in 54 of the 129 rooms.
| Villa | Units | Size | Sleeps | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Villa | 49 | 75 sq m | 2A + 2C | Beach |
| Water Bungalow with Pool | 17 | 80 sq m | 3A, or 2A + 1C | Overwater |
| Deluxe Villa with Pool | 1 | 110 sq m | 3A, or 2A + 2C | Beach |
| Water Villa | 24 | 112 sq m | 3A, or 2A + 1C | Overwater |
| Water Villa with Pool | 4 | 112 sq m | 3A, or 2A + 1C | Overwater |
| Beach Villa with Pool | 30 | 116 sq m | 3A, or 2A + 1C | Beach |
| Two Bedroom Deluxe Villa | 2 | 150 sq m | 6A, or 4A + 4C | Beach |
| Pool Villa | 1 | 175 sq m | 3A, or 2A + 2C | Beach |
| Water Suite | 1 | 270 sq m | 2A | Overwater |
Our tips
Each villa type has its own listing below. Compare the best overwater villas and affordable luxury resorts.
04Dining
Over the ocean: small plates, teppanyaki, charcoal grill and a serious sake list.
Toes in the sand, or a private pavilion, with Indian Ocean seafood.
An evolving set menu inspired by the sea.
Stations for meats, seafood and global favourites.
Sharing platters by the sea, continental with Asian touches.
Fen overlooks the infinity pool; Chill Bar is the sunset spot over the water.
The Velassaru Indulgence Package covers lunch, dinner at the à la carte restaurants, fine wines, beers, premium spirits and juices.
05Spa and movement
06On the water
07Our honest view
08Getting there
09FAQs
Yes. Velassaru Maldives became Niva Velassaru Maldives on 15 January 2026, when its owner, Universal Resorts, now Versa Hospitality, moved it to its new Niva lifestyle brand. The island, villas and team are the same.
About 25 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport in Malé, and boats run around the clock. That makes it one of the easiest luxury islands to reach, with no seaplane and no night in Malé, whatever time you land.
There are 129 villas, bungalows and suites: 49 Deluxe Villas, 30 Beach Villas with Pool, 17 Water Bungalows with Pool, 24 Water Villas, 4 Water Villas with Pool, 2 Two Bedroom Deluxe Villas, a Deluxe Villa with Pool, a Pool Villa and the Water Suite.
It works for families, especially with older children. There is no kids club, but Deluxe Villas sleep two adults and two children, the two Two Bedroom Deluxe Villas sleep up to six adults or four adults and four children, and children can join tennis lessons and water sports.
Five dining concepts and two bars: Vela for live cooking stations, Turquoise for light bites, Etesian for a Mediterranean set menu, Sand for seafood on the beach, and Sora over the water for Japanese and Peruvian dishes. Fen Bar overlooks the infinity pool and Chill Bar is the sunset spot.
The resort's inclusive plan: lunch at Turquoise, Fen or Chill Bar, dinner at the à la carte restaurants, fine wines, beers, premium spirits and fresh juices, plus snorkelling gear and a two-hour ocean kayak experience. We compare it with half board when we quote.
Yes. LIME Wellbeing has ten overwater treatment rooms, including two for couples, a hydro pool over the lagoon, a steam room and a night spa, with Elemis, Aromatherapy Associates and Margaret Dabbs treatments. There is also a Reformer Pilates and Barre studio.
Couples usually love a Water Villa with Pool. On the beach, a Beach Villa with Pool gives you 116 sq m and an open-air garden shower. Families should look at the Two Bedroom Deluxe Villas, and the Water Suite, with its own butler and infinity pool, is the one for a big occasion.
HolidayVibe Maldives is a trusted brand in the Maldives travel industry, a Malé-based agency licensed by the Ministry of Tourism (MOT.O1.RS.TA.25.RD9933). You deal with one local team from the first message to your transfer home.
We are luxury travel experts in the Maldives who know these islands villa by villa. We put the villa, transfers, meal plan and current offers into one written quote, often better value than booking sites.
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Written by Abdulla Maseeh, HolidayVibe Maldives. Updated 27 October 2026. Villa counts, sizes, occupancy, venues and facilities from the Niva Velassaru Maldives fact sheet and sales toolkit, 2026; rebrand date from Versa Hospitality announcements. We confirm every villa, meal plan and transfer at the time of booking.
| Check In | 12:00 pm |
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| Check Out | 12:00 pm |
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