Alif Dhaalu Atoll

Alifu Dhaalu Atoll (also known as Southern Ari Atoll or Ari Atholhu Dhekunuburi) is an administrative division of the Maldives.

Alifu Dhaalu Atoll
atoll of the Maldives
Rangalifinolhu island in Ari Atoll or Alif Dhaalu Atoll where Conrad-Hilton operates a resort
Location of Alifu Dhaalu in Maldives
Country	Maldives
Corresponding geographic atoll(s)	Ari Atholhu Dhekunuburi
Location	3.85° N and 72.83° E
Capital	Mahibadhoo
Government
• Atoll Chief	Mohamed Mahir
Population
• Total	8,145
Letter code	I
Dhivehi letter code	ADh (އދ)
• Number of islands	49
• Inhabited islands	Dhangethi Dhiddhoo Dhigurah Fenfushi Hangnaameedhoo Kunburudhoo Maamingili Mahibadhoo Mandhoo Omadhoo
• Uninhabited islands	Alikoirah, Angaagaa*, Ariadhoo, Athurugau*, Bodufinolhu, Bodukaashihuraa, Bulhaaholhi, Dhehasanulunboihuraa, Dhiddhoofinolhu*, Dhiffushi*, Dhiggiri, Enboodhoo, Finolhu, Gasfinolhu, Heenfaru, Hiyafushi, Hukurudhoo, Hurasdhoo, Huruelhi*, Huvahendhoo*, Innafushi, Kalhuhandhihuraa, Kudadhoo, Kudarah*, Maafushivaru*, Machchafushi*, Medhufinolhu, Mirihi*, Moofushi*, Nalaguraidhoo*, Rahddhiggaa, Rangali, Rangalifinolhu*, Rashukolhuhuraa, Theluveligaa, Tholhifushi, Thudufushi*, Vakarufalhi*, Vilamendhoo*, Villingili, Villingilivaru*
Resort islands(*), airports(¤) and industrial islands are also considered uninhabited.

The separation of Ari Atoll (formerly Alifu Atoll) on March 1, 1984, into a Northern and a Southern section formed the two most recent administrative divisions of the Maldives, namely Alifu Alifu Atoll and Alifu Dhaalu Atoll. Alifu Dhaalu Atoll lies south of the line between the channels of Himendhoo Dhekunukandu and Genburugau Kandu.

There is an ancient mosque in Fenfushi island having wooden decorated ceilings and lacquerwork panels.

Buddhist remains, including a stupa, have been found in Ariadhoo Island.

Whale sharks are year-round residents of Alif Dhaal Atoll.^[1]

Geography

The South Ari Atoll administrative division consists of the southern part of the geographic or natural Ari Atoll (described as Southern Ari Atoll in this context to differentiate from the official name of the administrative division). The atoll consists of Inhabited Islands and Uninhabited Islands, a definition which includes resort islands, airport islands, and industrial islands.

Inhabited islands

Name	Population[2]	Coordinates[3]	Geographic Atoll/Island	Remarks
Dhangethi	713	3°36′27″N 72°57′19″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Dhiddhoo	137	3°28′59″N 72°52′39″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Dhigurah	529	3°31′50″N 72°55′33″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Fenfushi	729	3°29′21″N 72°47′1″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Hangnaameedhoo	481	3°50′57″N 72°57′18″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Kunburudhoo	606	3°46′32″N 72°55′30″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Maamingili	2,079	3°28′34″N 72°50′12″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Mahibadhoo	1,939	3°45′25″N 72°58′9″E	Southern Ari Atoll	Capital of the South Ari Atoll Administrative Division
Mandhoo	295	3°41′52″N 72°42′34″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Omadhoo	843	3°47′29″N 72°57′43″E	Southern Ari Atoll

Resort islands

Resort islands are classified as Uninhabited Islands which have been converted to become resorts. The following are the resort islands, with the official name of the resort.

Name	Resort Name	Coordinates[4]	Geographic Atoll	Remarks
Angaagau	Angaaga Island Resort and Spa[5]	3°39′9″N 72°49′18″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Athurugau	Diamonds Athuruga[6]	3°53′13″N 72°48′58″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Dhidhdhoofinolhu	LUX* South Ari Atoll[7]	3°29′54″N 72°53′46″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Dhiffushi	Holiday Island Resort [8]	3°28′30″N 72°49′29″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Huvahendhoo	Lily Beach Resort and Spa at Huvahendoo[9]	3°39′13″N 72°57′13″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Kuda Rah	Amaya Kuda Rah [10]	3°34′26″N 72°54′38″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Maafushivaru	Maafushivaru [11]	3°36′28″N 72°54′1″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Machchafushi	Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa [12]	3°35′37″N 72°53′0″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Mirihi	Mirihi Island Resort [13]	3°37′9″N 72°46′49″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Moofushi	Constance Moofushi [14]	3°53′5″N 72°43′40″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Nalaguraidhoo	Sun Island Resort[15]	3°29′0″N 72°48′5″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Rangalifinolhu	Conrad Maldives Rangali Island [16]	3°36′58″N 72°42′59″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Thundufushi	Diamonds Thudufushi[17]	3°47′10″N 72°43′51″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Vakarufalhi	Vakarufalhi Island Resort[18]	3°34′42″N 72°54′7″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Vilamendhoo	Vilamendhoo Island Resort[19]	3°38′1″N 72°57′32″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Villingilivaru	Ranveli Village	3°37′8″N 72°57′18″E	Southern Ari Atoll
Huruelhi	Radisson Blu Maldives	unknown	Southern Ari Atoll