Soneva

Soneva is a privately operated luxury hospitality brand founded in the Maldives in 1995 by Sonu Shivdasani and Eva Malmström Shivdasani. It began with Soneva Fushi on Kunfunadhoo Island, a resort that helped establish the Maldives as a destination for ultra-luxury tourism. The property introduced a deliberately informal, nature-oriented style often described as a Robinson Crusoe approach: villas were integrated into the island environment, guests were encouraged to go barefoot, and the resort emphasized privacy, spacious accommodation, and direct engagement with the surrounding marine and tropical landscape. The brand originated within the wider business created by the Shivdasanis, initially associated with Six Senses BVI and the Six Senses and Evason hospitality concepts. Soneva Gili opened in 2001 as the Maldives’ first entirely overwater resort, while the group also developed Six Senses and Evason properties elsewhere in Asia. In 2012, the Shivdasanis sold the Six Senses and Evason management contracts and related intellectual property to Pegasus Capital Advisors. Soneva Gili was also sold and later became Gili Lankanfushi. The owners then concentrated on Soneva as a distinct business built around a “one owner, one operator, one philosophy, one brand” model, with a focus on resorts that combined hotel accommodation and private residences. Soneva expanded in Thailand with Soneva Kiri on Koh Kood and in the Maldives with Soneva Jani in the Noonu Atoll. It later added Soneva Secret in the Maldives and the two-bedroom Soneva in Aqua yacht. Its properties combine villas and residences with personalized service, destination dining, wellness, marine activities, astronomy, art, glassmaking, and other bespoke experiences. Soneva Jani’s second phase, opened in 2020, added overwater retreats and the brand’s first all-inclusive offering, covering food and selected experiences. Environmental stewardship is central to Soneva’s positioning. Its initiatives have included the use of recycled and sustainable building materials, restrictions on single-use plastic straws and branded bottled water, waste-processing infrastructure, renewable-energy installations, and a carbon levy applied to room revenue. Soneva Fushi’s Eco Centro was developed as an integrated waste-management facility, while the resort has also hosted an astronomy observatory, an art and glass studio using waste glass, and AquaTerra, a conservation, education, and science facility. The Soneva Foundation, established in 2010 as a United Kingdom registered charity, has supported forest restoration, water, sanitation, and other social and environmental projects. The foundation’s work also helped create the WHOLE WORLD Water campaign, which encourages hospitality businesses to produce reusable bottled water and contribute part of the proceeds to water-related initiatives. Soneva’s business model includes both resort operations and the sale of private residences, particularly after changes to Maldivian law enabled foreigners to purchase leasehold resort residences. A Soneva Fushi four-bedroom villa became the first leasehold residential property sold in the Maldives in 2011. This combination of resort operations, branded residences, and curated experiences differentiates Soneva from a conventional hotel chain. In May 2025, KSL Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Soneva Group. Sonu and Eva Shivdasani stepped away fully from the business at that time. The Soneva resorts continued operating under the brand, with Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani, and Soneva Secret in the Maldives and Soneva Kiri in Thailand identified as its principal resort properties. The company’s public profile has also been affected by legal and regulatory controversies involving a 2022 fire at Soneva Kiri, allegations concerning the allocation of Maldivian resort-development rights, litigation connected with a private-villa transaction, and a 2024 aircraft crash involving a flight arranged for guests traveling to Soneva Kiri.

Soneva was established in 1995 by Sonu Shivdasani and Eva Malmström Shivdasani, who opened Soneva Fushi on Kunfunadhoo Island in the Maldives with 48 villas. The resort helped define the emerging Maldivian luxury-resort model by combining secluded island accommodation with unusually spacious villas, informal service, environmental initiatives, and experiences built around the natural setting. It was promoted as an early Robinson Crusoe-style resort and became associated with several firsts in the Maldives, including an early luxury hotel concept and the country’s first resort wine cellar. The founders’ wider hospitality platform initially operated under Six Senses BVI. Soneva developed alongside the Six Senses and Evason brands, allowing the group to expand beyond the Maldives. Soneva Gili opened in 2001 as the Maldives’ first resort built entirely over water. The group’s first Evason hotel opened in Phuket in the same year, and its first Six Senses property opened in Hua Hin in 2004. Soneva Kiri followed in 2009 on Koh Kood in Thailand. Sustainability became a formal part of the business from the beginning. The founders committed to recycled and sustainable construction materials at Soneva Fushi. The brand later restricted single-use plastic straws, introduced a carbon levy, stopped using branded bottled water, and invested in waste management. Eco Centro, opened at Soneva Fushi in 2007, was described as the Maldives’ first integrated waste-management center. The resort added an astronomy observatory in 2008 and an art and glass studio in 2014 that used waste glass from resorts in the Maldives. The Soneva Foundation was founded in 2010 and funded in part through the carbon levy and profits from resort-bottled water. A change in Maldivian law in December 2010 allowed foreign buyers to acquire resort residences on a leasehold basis. Soneva Fushi began selling private residences in 2011, including the first reported leasehold residential property sold to a foreign buyer in the Maldives. This helped shape Soneva’s later focus on resorts with branded residences as well as hotel accommodation. In 2012, the Shivdasanis sold the Six Senses and Evason management contracts and associated intellectual property to Pegasus Capital Advisors. They also sold Soneva Gili, which subsequently became Gili Lankanfushi. The transaction enabled the owners to concentrate on Soneva as a separate resort and residences brand under a “one owner, one operator, one philosophy, one brand” strategy. Soneva continued developing experiential products. Soneva in Aqua, a two-bedroom luxury yacht, began operating in 2015. Soneva Jani opened in October 2016 in the Noonu Atoll, with overwater and land-based villas and residences available for purchase. Chapter 2 opened in December 2020 with additional overwater retreats and the company’s first all-inclusive offering. Soneva Fushi later launched AquaTerra in April 2023 as a conservation, education, and science facility. The brand’s environmental program continued with renewable-energy systems installed at Soneva Jani and Soneva Fushi in 2025. The company said the systems were designed to cover about half of the resorts’ electricity needs while reducing diesel consumption and carbon emissions. Soneva has also supported forest restoration in northern Thailand and water and sanitation projects through the Soneva Foundation and the WHOLE WORLD Water initiative. Soneva faced several legal and reputational controversies. A March 2022 fire at Soneva Kiri led to investigations and reported charges concerning fire safety, licensing, and the use of a villa for hotel purposes. Reporting in 2018 raised questions about the process through which the Medhufaru site, later used for Soneva Jani, was leased during the tenure of former Maldivian tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb. Separate proceedings involved allegations by a prospective villa purchaser who claimed that a Thai property transaction connected with Soneva Kiri had not been completed as promised. In August 2024, a charter flight carrying guests and resort employees toward Soneva Kiri crashed, killing all nine occupants; relatives of Chinese passengers later filed proceedings against the resort and the flight operator. In May 2025, KSL Capital Partners became the majority investor in Soneva Group. Sonu and Eva Shivdasani then withdrew fully from the business. Soneva remained an operating luxury-resort brand with properties in the Maldives and Thailand.

• 2025

  KSL Capital Partners becomes majority investor

  [1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  KSL Capital Partners takes a majority interest in Soneva Group, and the founders step away from the business.

• 2023

  AquaTerra launches

  [1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  Soneva Fushi opens AquaTerra as a conservation, education, and science facility.

• 2020

  Soneva Jani Chapter 2 opens

  [1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  The resort adds 28 overwater retreats and launches Soneva’s first all-inclusive product.

• 2016

  Soneva Jani opens

  [1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  Soneva Jani opens in the Maldives with overwater retreats and residences.

• 2015

  Soneva in Aqua begins

  [1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  Soneva introduces a two-bedroom luxury yacht offering.

• 2012

  Six Senses and Evason businesses are sold

  [1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  The Shivdasanis sell Six Senses and Evason contracts and related intellectual property, while Soneva is retained as a separate brand.

• 2011

  Soneva Fushi begins selling leasehold residences

  [1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  Soneva begins selling private residences at Soneva Fushi after Maldivian law permits foreign leasehold ownership.

• 2010

  Soneva Foundation is established

  [1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  The Soneva Foundation is created to support environmental, water, sanitation, and social-impact projects.

• 2008

  Carbon levy and bottled-water policies introduced

  [1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  Soneva introduces a 2 percent carbon levy and bans branded bottled water as part of its environmental program.

• 2007

  Eco Centro opens

  [1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  Soneva Fushi opens an integrated waste-management facility known as Eco Centro.

• 2001

  Soneva Gili opens

  [1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  Soneva Gili opens as the Maldives’ first resort built entirely over water.

• 1995

  Soneva is founded and Soneva Fushi opens

  [1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  Sonu and Eva Shivdasani establish the business and open Soneva Fushi on Kunfunadhoo Island in the Maldives.

Ultra-luxury, experience-led hospitality centered on privacy, barefoot island living, nature immersion, sustainability, and highly personalized service.

• Maldives luxury resort · 1995

  Soneva Fushi

  Soneva’s original resort, located on Kunfunadhoo Island in the Baa Atoll. It established the brand’s secluded, nature-integrated style and combines beach villas, private residences, destination dining, wellness, marine activities, environmental facilities, an astronomy observatory, and creative studios. The property also became an early venue for branded leasehold residences in the Maldives.

• Thailand luxury resort · 2009

  Soneva Kiri

  A luxury resort on Koh Kood in Thailand, opened in 2009. Soneva Kiri extends the brand’s island-hospitality concept beyond the Maldives through private villas, nature-based activities, dining, and personalized resort experiences.

• Maldives overwater resort · 2016

  Soneva Jani

  A resort in the Noonu Atoll centered on overwater retreats and private residences. It opened in 2016 and later expanded through Chapter 2, which added further overwater accommodation and an all-inclusive stay format covering food and experiences.

• Maldives luxury resort

  Soneva Secret

  A Soneva resort in the Makunudhoo Atoll, included among the brand’s Maldivian properties. It follows the brand’s focus on private accommodation, seclusion, customized service, and immersive island experiences.

• Luxury yacht hospitality · 2015

  Soneva in Aqua

  A two-bedroom luxury yacht introduced by Soneva in 2015. It extends the brand’s resort experience onto the water, combining private accommodation with yacht-based travel and customized activities.

• 2024

  Crash of charter flight traveling to Soneva Kiri

  A Thai Flying Service charter flight arranged for travel to Soneva Kiri crashed after departing Bangkok, killing all nine people aboard. Relatives of five Chinese passengers later sued Soneva Kiri and the flight operator, alleging responsibility and seeking compensation. The legal claims remained unresolved in the supplied material.

• 2022

  Soneva Kiri fire and alleged safety violations

  A fire destroyed or severely damaged a villa at Soneva Kiri. Thai authorities investigated alleged failures involving fire-safety inspection, hotel licensing, and notification requirements, and reports said charges were brought against three executives. The allegations and proceedings should not be treated as proof of liability without a final legal disposition.

• 2021

  Dispute over a Soneva Kiri villa transaction

  A Swiss businessman and his company sought evidence in United States proceedings to support contemplated foreign litigation and arbitration concerning an alleged failure to deliver a Thai villa and related property after an investment. The allegations involved Sonu Shivdasani and Bluebay Resorts and were contested.

• 2018

  Allegations concerning the Medhufaru resort-development lease

  Reporting by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project linked the development site used for Soneva Jani with allegations that former Maldivian tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb allocated islands and lagoons without legally required public tenders. The reporting described the Shivdasanis as among companies that benefited from the wider system. The material does not establish a criminal finding against Soneva.

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• 2013WHOLE WORLD Water

  International

  The Soneva Foundation co-founded WHOLE WORLD Water with Karena Albers and Jenifer Willig. The campaign encouraged hotels and restaurants to filter and bottle their own water in reusable glass containers and donate 10 percent of sales profits to water and sanitation projects.

  Outcome. The initiative attracted participation from hospitality properties and supported broader access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

  Source
• 2010Soneva Foundation environmental and social-impact program

  Maldives · Thailand · International

  The foundation used proceeds from Soneva’s carbon levy and resort-bottled water to support forest restoration, water access, sanitation, and related environmental projects.

  Outcome. Reported work included forest restoration in northern Thailand and hundreds of water and sanitation projects in multiple countries.

  Source
• 2008Soneva carbon levy

  All Soneva resorts

  Soneva introduced a 2 percent levy connected to room revenue to fund carbon-offsetting and environmental initiatives.

  Outcome. The levy became an important funding source for the Soneva Foundation and the brand’s environmental projects.

  Source

• 2025

  Renewable-energy expansionStrategy

  Background

  Soneva sought to reduce dependence on diesel generation at its Maldivian resorts.

  Action taken

  Renewable-energy systems were installed at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani, with the stated objective of supplying about half of each resort’s electricity.

  Aftermath

  The company reported lower planned diesel consumption and carbon emissions, although independently verified financial effects were not provided.

  Source

• 2025

  KSL Capital Partners takes majority ownershipM&A

  Background

  After three decades of founder ownership, Soneva Group entered a new ownership phase.

  Action taken

  KSL Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in Soneva Group, while Sonu and Eva Shivdasani stepped away from the business.

  Aftermath

  Soneva continued operating its resort portfolio under new majority ownership.

  Source

• 2020

  Launch of Soneva’s first all-inclusive productProduct launch

  Background

  Soneva Jani expanded through its Chapter 2 development.

  Action taken

  The brand introduced an all-inclusive format covering food and experiences alongside 28 new overwater retreats.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened Soneva’s resort offering while preserving its focus on curated experiences and high-end accommodation.

  Source

• 2012

  Concentration on the Soneva brandStrategy

  Background

  The Shivdasanis sold the Six Senses and Evason management contracts and related intellectual property, and also sold Soneva Gili.

  Action taken

  The owners retained Soneva and concentrated on a unified resort-and-residences model described as one owner, one operator, one philosophy, and one brand.

  Aftermath

  Soneva developed as a distinct luxury hospitality brand rather than as part of the Six Senses portfolio.

  Source

• 2025

  KSL Capital Partners takes majority interest in Soneva Group[1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  KSL Capital Partners acquired a majority stake in Soneva Group, while founders Sonu and Eva Shivdasani stepped away from all involvement in the business.

• 2025

  Renewable-energy systems installed at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani[1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Soneva reported renewable-energy installations at two Maldivian resorts, intended to supply approximately half of their electricity and reduce diesel use and emissions.

• 2023

  AquaTerra opens at Soneva Fushi[1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Soneva Fushi launched AquaTerra as a facility focused on conservation, education, and science.

• 2020

  Soneva Jani Chapter 2 opens[1]Sonevaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  The second phase of Soneva Jani opened with 28 overwater retreats and introduced Soneva’s first all-inclusive product.

1. 1Sonevaen.wikipedia.org