JOALI Maldives Joins HPA, WHO Maldives & MSLSTS to Advance Drowning Prevention
World Drowning Prevention Day 2026
“Unite to Turn the Tide”
Hulhumalé, Maldives | 26 September 2026
JOALI Maldives participated in the World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 public awareness event held at Hulhumalé Phase 1 Beach on 26 September, joining the Health Protection Agency (HPA), World Health Organization (WHO) Maldives, Maldives Swimming and Life Saving Skills Training School (MSLSTS) and other national and industry partners in promoting greater awareness of drowning prevention and water safety.
Organised by HPA, with WHO Maldives, MSLSTS and partner organisations, the programme connected directly with the public through practical water-safety messages and lifesaving activities, including drowning-rescue demonstrations, basic first aid and CPR, and emergency-response drills.
The initiative formed part of the 2026 global World Drowning Prevention Day campaign under the theme “Unite to Turn the Tide,” a call for governments, communities, families and individuals to work together through proven interventions that can prevent drowning.
JOALI Maldives:
A Meaningful Connection with the Ocean
For JOALI Maldives, participation in a water-safety initiative carries a natural connection to the environment in which the resort operates. Located on Muravandhoo Island in Raa Atoll, JOALI Maldives is an art-immersive island resort surrounded by the natural beauty and marine life of the Maldivian environment. Its philosophy of Joy of Creative Living brings together creativity, discovery, nature and meaningful experiences.
The resort’s participation in World Drowning Prevention Day provided an opportunity to support a wider national conversation about how people can interact with the water with greater awareness, knowledge and preparedness.
Rather than viewing the ocean only as part of the destination experience, the initiative reinforces the importance of understanding and respecting the environment that surrounds Maldivian communities and resorts.
The Joy of Caring in Action
JOALI’s commitment to responsible luxury is expressed through its Joy of Caring approach, which encompasses four areas: Joy of Empowering, Joy of Preserving, Joy of Conserving and Joy of Nurturing.
Among these, Joy of Nurturing focuses on promoting wellbeing through education, resources and partnerships, while Joy of Preserving includes JOALI’s work to manage environmental impact and support the protection of oceans.
Within that broader philosophy, participation in a national drowning-prevention awareness initiative represents a practical form of partnership and public engagement**,** supporting knowledge that can contribute to safer experiences around water.
From Awareness to Practical Skills
A central strength of the Hulhumalé programme was its practical approach.
Through the involvement of MSLSTS and other partners, members of the public had the opportunity to engage with water-safety awareness, rescue skills, first aid, CPR and emergency-response activities.
These are important elements of drowning prevention because awareness is most valuable when people also understand how to recognise danger and respond appropriately.
The event therefore brought the global message of drowning prevention into a community setting, making lifesaving knowledge accessible through direct engagement and demonstration.
A Shared Responsibility
The Hulhumalé programme brought together organisations from public health, emergency response, community services, lifesaving and tourism.
Participating organisations and partners included:
Health Protection Agency (HPA)
World Health Organization (WHO) Maldives
Maldives Swimming and Life Saving Skills Training School (MSLSTS)
Housing Development Corporation (HDC)
Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF)
Maldivian Red Crescent
Maldives Police Service
Hulhumalé Hospital
JOALI Maldives
JOALI BEING
Patina Maldives
Avani+ Fares Maldives
and other supporting partners.
HPA confirmed the involvement of HPA, WHO Maldives, Hulhumalé Hospital, HDC, MNDF, Maldivian Red Crescent, Maldives Police Service, MSLSTS and other partners, while MSLSTS highlighted the special participation of JOALI Maldives, JOALI BEING, Patina Maldives and Avani+ Fares Maldives.”
The breadth of participation reflects the reality that drowning prevention requires cooperation across sectors.
Creativity, Discovery and Responsibility
JOALI Maldives’ approach to hospitality is built around discovery and connection. The Joy of Creative Living extends across art, gastronomy, wellbeing, nature and experiences designed for different generations.
Its community initiatives also demonstrate an emphasis on creating meaningful connections through education, creativity and participation.
World Drowning Prevention Day offers another setting in which these broader ideas can meet practical community needs: creating awareness, encouraging learning and bringing people together around a subject where knowledge can have lifesaving value.
A Global Campaign with Local Meaning
The World Health Organization identifies drowning as a preventable public-health issue, with more than 300,000 drowning deaths globally each year. The 2026 campaign theme, “Unite to Turn the Tide,” calls for collective action by governments, communities, families and individuals.
In the Maldives, where the ocean is an integral part of life, culture and tourism, translating this global message into practical local awareness is particularly relevant.
The Hulhumalé event demonstrated how national institutions, professional lifesaving organisations and responsible tourism partners can come together to support that objective.
Continuing the Journey
JOALI Maldives’ participation in World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 represents a contribution to a wider national effort to strengthen awareness and preparedness around water.
Through collaboration with organisations such as HPA, WHO Maldives and MSLSTS, and alongside fellow tourism and community partners, the initiative helped bring attention to the importance of prevention, preparedness and lifesaving knowledge.
For JOALI Maldives, the participation aligns naturally with its broader commitment to responsible luxury, wellbeing, meaningful connection and care for the natural environment, while supporting a practical cause that matters deeply to an island nation.
Unite to Turn the Tide.
Prevent Drowning. Protect Lives. Promote Water Safety.
