Sun Siyam Achieves Green Globe Certification Across All Five Maldives Resorts

10 September, 2026

Sun Siyam Resorts has reached a major milestone in its sustainability journey, with all five of its resorts in the Maldives now holding Green Globe Certification. The certification covers Siyam World, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Sun Siyam Olhuveli, Sun Siyam Iru Veli, and Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, recognising group-wide efforts to embed responsible practices into everyday resort operations.

The achievement positions Sun Siyam as one of the few hospitality groups in the Maldives to bring its entire domestic portfolio under an independently audited international sustainability standard.

What Is Green Globe Certification?

Green Globe is one of the travel and tourism industry's established international certification programmes. Its standard for hotels and resorts assesses businesses against 44 core criteria supported by more than 400 compliance indicators across four key areas: sustainable management, social and economic responsibility, cultural heritage, and environmental protection.

Certification is independently audited and renewed annually, requiring properties to demonstrate continued progress rather than one-off achievements. For Sun Siyam, achieving certification across its entire Maldives portfolio represents an important step in a much longer sustainability journey.

The Five Certified Sun Siyam Resorts in the Maldives

Siyam World Maldives

Siyam World is home to the Maldives' first resort-based Plastic Upcycling Centre of its scale. Developed in collaboration with CLEAN Maldives, the facility transforms discarded materials—including used containers and plastic drums—into outdoor furniture and planters, creating a circular solution to waste that would otherwise need to leave the island.

The resort also launched the Wreck to Reef project, an ambitious long-term conservation initiative centred around a 66.36-metre former Maldivian tuna freighter now resting beneath the waters of Noonu Atoll. Through natural coral growth and dedicated restoration, the wreck is being transformed into a living reef, creating new habitats for marine life while giving guests the opportunity to plant coral fragments directly onto the structure.

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi has reinforced its commitment to sustainability by becoming a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, committing to reduce carbon emissions by at least 50% over the next decade and achieve Net Zero emissions before 2050.

The resort has introduced coral restoration projects, regular reef clean-ups, and island-wide tree planting initiatives. It has also significantly reduced single-use plastic consumption by switching to glass water bottles and establishing an in-house bottling plant.

Sun Siyam Olhuveli

Sun Siyam Olhuveli hosts one of the group's most significant renewable energy investments. The resort operates a large-scale hybrid solar system combining solar generation with battery storage and real-time energy monitoring. The installation is part of a combined capacity of 4,110 kWh across Siyam World and Olhuveli, expected to generate more than six million kWh of clean energy annually.

The resort also unveiled its Adopt A Coral Frame experience on Earth Day 2026, inviting guests to participate directly in marine conservation efforts.

Sun Siyam Iru Veli

As part of the Sun Siyam Cares programme, Iru Veli contributes to group-wide commitments covering energy and water reduction, plastic and food waste minimisation, biodiversity protection, and community engagement.

Sun Siyam Vilu Reef

Sun Siyam Vilu Reef has embraced a zero-waste approach to its beverage philosophy, with a Green Mixology initiative that utilises every ingredient and minimises waste. The resort is located in South Nilandhe Atoll, Dhaalu Atoll, and is steps from Meedhuffushi Island Beach.

Sun Siyam Cares: The Framework Behind the Certification

The certification is underpinned by Sun Siyam Cares, the group's sustainability programme that integrates environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and community impact into operations across the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

The programme focuses on:

• Reducing energy, water, plastic, and food waste through in-house water bottling, waste segregation, composting, and the PLEDGE food-waste prevention programme

• Protecting biodiversity through dedicated marine biologists leading coral restoration and reef conservation projects across the resorts

• Supporting local communities by creating opportunities for Maldivians, empowering women, and partnering with island communities and women's development committees

• Preserving Maldivian culture and heritage through storytelling, cultural performances, festivals, and guided island visits

Renewable Energy: A Landmark Solar Initiative

One of the group's most significant investments to date is the rollout of large-scale hybrid solar systems at Siyam World and Sun Siyam Olhuveli. The installations have a combined capacity of 4,110 kWp and are expected to generate over 6 million kWh of clean energy annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by more than 4,458 tonnes each year.

The systems include battery storage—1,720 kWh at Siyam World and 537.5 kWh at Olhuveli—along with real-time monitoring dashboards for precise energy optimisation. Sun Siyam aims to achieve 50% renewable energy usage by 2030.

What This Means for Travellers

For environmentally conscious travellers, Green Globe Certification provides independent verification that a resort meets internationally recognised sustainability benchmarks. Unlike self-declared green initiatives, the certification involves third-party auditing and annual renewal, ensuring that properties demonstrate continued improvement rather than resting on past achievements.

Guests at Sun Siyam resorts can participate directly in conservation efforts through coral planting and adoption initiatives, stay informed about the group's sustainability performance, and enjoy luxury hospitality that does not come at the expense of environmental responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Green Globe Certification?
Green Globe is an international sustainability certification for the travel and tourism industry. It assesses hotels and resorts against 44 core criteria and more than 400 compliance indicators covering sustainable management, social and economic responsibility, cultural heritage, and environmental protection.

Which Sun Siyam resorts in the Maldives are Green Globe certified?
All five: Siyam World, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Sun Siyam Olhuveli, Sun Siyam Iru Veli, and Sun Siyam Vilu Reef.

What is Sun Siyam Cares?
Sun Siyam Cares is the group's sustainability programme covering environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and community impact. It addresses energy and water consumption, plastic and food waste, biodiversity protection, local employment, and the preservation of Maldivian culture.

How does Sun Siyam reduce its carbon footprint?
Through large-scale hybrid solar systems at Siyam World and Olhuveli, which generate over 6 million kWh of clean energy annually and reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 4,458 tonnes each year.

Can guests participate in conservation efforts?
Yes. Guests can take an active role in coral restoration projects through coral planting and adoption initiatives, including the Wreck to Reef project at Siyam World.

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