Nala Veli Maldives began in 2016 with six rooms and a garden. Ahmed Rasheed, known to everyone as Amsy, opened Nala Veli Villa on a residential street of Ukulhas, and in 2019 added Nala Veli Beach & Spa on the beachfront. Both are still here, still locally owned, still run by one team, now with Nala Bistro, Nala Spa, Nala Experiences and the celebrations alongside them.
The name Nala Veli means "beautiful sand" and is rooted in the shoreline around Ukulhas.
The man who started Nala Veli, and the owner of Nala Bistro
Ahmed Rasheed, known as Amsy
Founder and owner, Nala Veli Maldives
Amsy came to hospitality by way of engines. He trained as an engineer and worked on boat and vessel engines, then built a marine spare-parts business in Malé, and ran local boats carrying supplies and passengers between islands. Both of those businesses are still going.
He is from Malé; his wife is from Ukulhas. What brought him into hospitality on this island was a straightforward belief: that a stay on a working local island could bring guests closer to everyday Maldivian life. He still spends much of his time here. Ask him how Nala is doing and he answers with people first, the team and the way guests are looked after, before he gets to the buildings.
Thau Ibrahim, known as Thau
Owner, Nala Bistro
Thau is from Ukulhas and owns Nala Bistro, the beachfront restaurant at Nala Veli Beach & Spa. It is a separate business from Nala Veli. She opened it to create opportunities for women in hospitality. Today, women from the international team look after guests in the restaurant.
One team, from the first message to the boat home
Message us and a person replies. From that point on, one team looks after your stay.
The team helps with the details of your stay, from flight connections to a treatment or an occasion together. Please share dietary requirements in advance; the kitchen may check the details of a serious allergy with you again.
We learn guests' names and use them, rather than room numbers. If something is wrong, tell whoever is nearest: that person follows it through and comes back to you with an answer.
Two settings, the same island welcome
Nala Veli Villa has the garden, all its rooms on the ground floor and Nala Spa in the building. Nala Veli Beach & Spa is the larger hotel, with Nala Bistro on the sand in front of it.
Choose the setting and room that suit the way you want to stay. The Nala team is here to help at both properties, whether you spend your days on Ukulhas or join us for an outing.
For every night a guest stays, Nala puts one US dollar of its own room revenue into a fund for Ukulhas and its community. It is not added to your bill and it is not a tax. It comes out of what we earn.
On top of that, 5% of Nala excursion revenue goes to community-led ocean and environmental protection projects on the island. On 1 December each year, we publish a report on this website showing where the money in the fund went.
Meals at Nala Bistro, treatments at Nala Spa and trips with Nala Experiences connect you with more of the island during your stay. The team can also help plan an occasion by the water.
