Villingili (Addu Atoll)

For other islands, see Villingili.

Villingili is a resort island in Addu Atoll, Maldives.

Villingili
Holiday Island Resort
Map of Addu Atoll, Maldives
Villingili Location in Maldives
Coordinates: 0°40′43″S 73°11′41″E
Country	Maldives
Administrative atoll	Addu Atoll
Dimensions
• Length	3 km (2 mi)
• Width	0.8 km (0.5 mi)
Elevation	5 m (17 ft)
Population
• Total	0
Time zone	UTC+05:00 (MST)

In 1997, the government of the Maldives contracted the American firm Abonmarche to build a large resort and marina on the island to attract tourism.^[1] In 2000 the government withdrew this contract, and finding no other bidders, awarded it to another firm called "Energy Tours" to build a smaller resort. Energy Tours defaulted on this contract.^[1]

In 2005, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom contracted Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, a Hong Kong–based company, to build the first luxury resort in Addu Atoll.^[2] The resort was developed by Addu Investment Private Limited (70%) and the Maldivian Government (30%). The resort cost an estimated 150 million US dollars and opened in early 2009. Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa features a range of 132 villas including two Presidential Villas. The Villingili Shangri-La Resort closed indefinitely in 2020.^[3][4] The Maldivian government has been aiming to reopen the resort.^[5]

The island has the highest natural elevation in the Maldives, Mount Villingili. It stands at 5.1m (16.75 ft) above sea level, and is located on Villingili's golf course.^{[citation needed]}