There’s no dearth of resorts dotted around the Maldivian islands. Often, these havens come packed with experiences that speak the same tone. Think global cuisines, aquatic adventures that remind of other similar coastal destinations around the world, and architecture that screams global. For Six & Six Private Islands, the motto was slightly different.
While speaking the same story of barefoot luxury, the ambition for Six & Six Private Islands was to reinterpret it through a Maldivian framework rather than replicate global resort templates. Laith Pharaon, founder of Six & Six Private Islands, approached the project with a community-first brief, beginning with putting locals at the forefront.
This community-first lens shaped the brand’s initial developments in South Malé Atoll. The first, Rah Gili Maldives, is a 74-villa retreat combining beach and over-water accommodations. Its six dining venues, four bars, spa, fitness centre, dive hub, kids’ club, and curated social spaces anchor a lifestyle-focused experience. The island is also undergoing EarthCheck certification, supported by solar integration, in-house water bottling, composting systems, and low-impact construction.
Its counterpart, Dhon Maaga Maldives, adopts a more ultra-luxury scale. The resort will open with 56 villas—some claimed to be the largest in the country—ranging from 515 to 1,500+ square metres across one- to three-bedroom configurations. Fresh and saltwater pools, private courtyards, and expanded wellness and dining facilities define its offering.
Together, the two properties set the tone for the wider Six & Six vision: a collection of individually designed islands, each with its own character and purpose, expanding eventually into a six-island private archipelago shaped by context, restraint, and environmental sensitivity. Robb Report India speaks to Pharaon to learn more.
Robb Report India (RRI): What inspired the name 'Six & Six Private Islands'?
Laith Pharaon (LP): It started with idea of doing something bold in the Maldives: to embark on a journey to build six resorts, on six islands, in six years. That’s where the name comes from.
RRI: What was your vision behind the private islands?
LP: To create something that doesn’t try to impress, but stays with you. The Maldives has long been a stage for luxury. I felt there was space for something else. Maldives, over the past few years, has been dominated by the big luxury hotel brands and their universal brand standards. I wanted to do something that brings back the essence of why one chooses to vacation in the Maldives, focusing on local. Six & Six isn’t just a collection of resorts; it’s a philosophy of presence. We wanted to root our brand culture in something meaningful. That’s where the Rayyithun philosophy began. It’s the Maldivian word for “People of the Islands.” For us, Rayyithun is a living system of archetypes drawn from island life—fishermen, drummers, toddy tappers, builders, mentors and many others. Each island is brought to life through this cultural framework and its stories.
RRI: Why did you choose the Maldives as the launch ground?
LP: Having developed and operated in the Maldives for more than a quarter of a century, the people and the destination made our choice clear regarding where we wished to root ourselves and in the kind of brand we wanted to create. The Maldives is all about precision. It requires you to design with care, and respect the environment and the culture. You adapt and listen. That became foundational to Six & Six.
We collaborated closely with local communities and spent time understanding the rhythm of island life. That’s how our brand philosophy took shape. The Maldives didn’t just host our first chapter, but it also helped write it.
RRI: How do you ensure each property on each island remains unique yet part of one coherent brand universe?
LP: We approach every island as a blank canvas—each with its own landscape and soul. But the values remain constant: thoughtful design, intuitive service, and a sense of place rooted in local. Guests may not notice the similarities at first glance, but they’ll feel the red thread. This continuity is what matters.
RRI: How do you weave elements of Maldivian culture and craftsmanship into the design and guest experience?
LP: By honouring what already exists. Since day one, we’ve worked with Maldivian builders, elders, and cultural custodians. The stories, materials, and gestures rise from the islands themselves. From the way coral stone is shaped to how timber holds memory, each detail reflects a way of life that we’re trying to protect. Rayyithun lives in that spirit. The presence of fishermen, builders, and drummers gives meaning and helps make our hospitality more rooted.
RRI: In the age of ultra-connected travellers, how do you balance privacy with experience?
LP: We don’t over-design the guest journey. Instead, we create the space and step back. Some guests want stillness. Others seek intimacy or surprise. Our job is to tune into pace. True privacy is about being able to choose how much of the world you let in, and when.
RRI: The Maldives faces acute climate vulnerability. What role do you believe Six & Six play in fostering environmental resilience and community engagement?
LP: We’re accountable to the place and people, both. Every island we open is on a path to EarthCheck certification. They are built with solar fields, battery storage, state-of-the-art water systems, reef regeneration, and zero plastics. We hire locally, invest in skills development, and collaborate with communities for employment and knowledge. Whether it’s reviving traditional materials or supporting marine conservation, the goal is the same: build lightly and leave the place more intact, and more valued, than we found it.
RRI: According to you, what are the trends that are emerging in ultra-luxury resorts?
LP: There’s a clear shift toward emotional connectivity. While beauty, privacy, and excellence are a given, the next chapter of ultra-luxury is defined by how the place makes you feel. [It’s] the memory [a destination] leaves behind. The strongest shift is in storytelling will be in how a place communicates through texture, space, light, food, and people. Guests no longer just want to be impressed. Rather, they want to connect on their own terms.
RRI: What does ‘private island’ luxury mean to you in the current era of travel?
LP: Freedom to escape and return to yourself. A private island should offer space to reset. It’s not just privacy. It’s about having the freedom to choose your own rhythm. That, to me, is what luxury means now: clarity, calm, and the ability to move through the world on your own terms.
RRI: Having developed landmark resorts globally, what legacy do you want Six & Six to leave in the Maldives?
LP: We set out to build with care and to leave something meaningful behind. [We wanted to create] a brand that listened and worked with the local community. If these islands remain alive culturally, ecologically, and emotionally decades from now, that will be the legacy.
RRI: What’s next for Six & Six?
LP: Rah Gili opens in February 2026. Then comes Don Maaga in the third quarter. Both are entirely different, but shaped by the same principles. We’re also developing Six & Six Private Residences, a private villa ownership experience that extends our philosophy into long-form living. These homes will be elemental, light, and deeply attuned to the landscape. It is a major chapter ahead for us.
India is a key market where guests value legacy and lifestyle. This understanding shapes the way we’ve designed the [private residence] experience. These [residences] are generous, sculpted spaces with indoor–outdoor living, saltwater and freshwater pools, and dedicated butler service. Some even sit on private islands with their own rhythm and privacy.
We’ll continue slowly, carefully exploring destinations that carry the same values. We won’t expand for the sake of presence. Six & Six was never meant to be everywhere; [it is meant to be] only in places where the destination invites it.
This is a brand we hope will outlast us. And we’re building it with the care and clarity that this vision requires.
