CROSSROADS Maldives Partners with Maldives Islamic Bank on Coral Reef Restoration Initiative

S Hotels and Resorts PCL, the international hospitality company under Singha Estate, has reinforced its commitment to environmental sustainability through a new partnership aimed at protecting the Maldives’ fragile marine ecosystems. The company’s CROSSROADS Maldives destination has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Maldives Islamic Bank to launch a coral propagation and reef restoration initiative in the waters surrounding SAii Lagoon Maldives and The Marina @ CROSSROADS.

The collaboration seeks to safeguard the diverse marine life that inhabits the lagoon while enhancing the natural environment that draws visitors and sustains local communities. The initiative represents a tangible effort to address the ongoing threat to coral reefs, which serve as vital habitats for marine species and play a crucial role in the ecological balance of the region.

An Underwater Commitment

In a symbolic gesture that underscored the partnership’s focus, the MoU was signed underwater in the very lagoon where restoration efforts will be concentrated. Mr Mufaddal Idris Khumri, Managing Director of Maldives Islamic Bank, and Mr Alexander Traeger, General Manager of SAii Lagoon Maldives and The Marina @ CROSSROADS, both experienced divers, conducted the signing ceremony beneath the surface. The unique setting highlighted the direct connection between the agreement and the marine environment it aims to protect.

Part of a Broader Conservation Strategy

The coral restoration project aligns with S Hotels and Resorts’ comprehensive sustainability framework, which includes an ambitious target to protect 30% of Key Biodiversity Areas across all its destinations by 2030. Through reef restoration, the partnership aims to regenerate critical marine habitats, strengthen biodiversity and foster long-term conservation engagement with local communities.

Guests at S Hotels and Resorts properties are already actively involved in marine conservation through the company’s Marine Discovery Centres in Thailand and the Maldives. These centres offer guided experiences led by marine experts, including hands-on participation in coral propagation, mangrove restoration and the “Save Our Sharks” programme. The programming provides visitors with meaningful opportunities to contribute directly to ocean protection efforts while deepening their understanding of marine ecosystems.

A Shared Vision for Marine Protection

Michael Marshall, Chief Executive Officer of S Hotels and Resorts, emphasized the significance of the collaboration. “Partnering with Maldives Islamic Bank is a shared promise to protect what makes the Maldives so extraordinary,” he said. “By restoring coral ecosystems, we’re not only preserving biodiversity but also creating destinations where nature and hospitality thrive together.”

The partnership between S Hotels and Resorts and Maldives Islamic Bank represents a commitment to the long-term health of the country’s coral reefs, which are essential to the Maldives’ natural heritage, tourism-dependent economy and climate resilience. As coral reefs face mounting pressures from climate change and environmental degradation, collaborative restoration efforts are increasingly recognized as crucial to sustaining these vital underwater ecosystems for future generations.