# Kaafu Atoll

Kaafu Atoll is the code name given to an administrative division in the Republic of Maldives which consists of the geographical atolls of Kaashidhoo Island, Gaafaru, North Malé Atoll and South Malé Atoll. As the two Malé Atolls are the main islands of the administrative district, the entire Kaafu Atoll administrative division is officially named Malé Atoll or Malé Atolhu in the Dhivehi language.
The capital of the administrative division is Thulusdhoo.
Although Malé, the capital of the Maldives, and the adjacent islands of Vilingili, Hulhule and Hulhumalé, are geographically part of the North Malé Atoll, they do not form part of the Kaafu Atoll administrative division and are a separate administrative division.

## Kaafu or Malé Atoll

Kaafu is a code letter of the Thaana alphabet used in the Dhivehi language assigned to one of the administrative divisions of the Maldives which is officially and traditionally known by the name Malé Atoll. The Thaana alphabet code names are not the names of the natural or geographical atolls of the Maldives which make up these divisions. These administrative divisions may consist of part of, a single or several natural atolls.
Malé Atoll is the name of two natural atolls which form part of the administrative division of Kaafu Atoll. The two Malé Atolls are North Malé Atoll and South Malé Atoll which are separated by the Vaadhoo Kandu. Malé and Thulusdhoo are both located in North Malé Atoll.
The order of letter designations goes from north to south. The designations Kaafu and Male are inaccurate from both a geographical and cultural standpoint, but they are popular among tourists and foreigners arriving in the Maldives. They find them simpler and more memorable compared to the actual names of the atolls in the Dhivehi language (with a couple of exceptions, such as the Ari Atoll).

## Geography

The Malé or Kaafu Atoll administrative division consists of the geographic or natural atolls of North Malé Atoll, South Malé Atoll, Gaafaru Atoll and Kaashidhoo Island. The atolls consists of Inhabited Islands and Uninhabited Island, a definition which includes resort islands, airport islands and industrial islands.
Although Malé, Hulhulé, Hulhumalé and Vilimalé are geographically part of North Malé Atoll, they are not part of the Kaafu Atoll administrative division and are part of the separate Malé City administrative division.
South Male Atoll, or South Kaafu, is one of the central atolls in the Maldives, measuring 36 km in length and 19 km in width. The atoll consists of 30 islands, of which only 3 are inhabited, 10 are uninhabited, and 17 are home to hotels offering beach and diving opportunities for tourists. The largest island in South Male is Guraidhoo, known for surfing, while the most visited is Maafushi, where the capital of the atoll is located. It features restaurants, souvenir shops, and two beaches, and 10 minutes away is Furaveri, a small beach island with sugar-white sand. South Male Atoll is known for its dive sites. Diving is possible here all year round, with visibility ranging from 15 to 30 meters. The most popular diving spot is the Guraidhoo Kandu marine reserve.

### Inhabited islands

| Name | Population | Coordinates | Geographic Atoll/Island | Remarks |
| Dhiffushi | 967 | 4°26′31″N 73°42′49″E﻿ / ﻿4.44194°N 73.71361°E﻿ / 4.44194; 73.71361 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Gaafaru | 1,013 | 4°44′09″N 73°30′00″E﻿ / ﻿4.73583°N 73.50000°E﻿ / 4.73583; 73.50000 | Gaafaru Atoll | |
| Gulhi | 832 | 3°59′25″N 73°30′32″E﻿ / ﻿3.99028°N 73.50889°E﻿ / 3.99028; 73.50889 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Guraidhoo | 1,580 | 3°54′02″N 73°28′05″E﻿ / ﻿3.90056°N 73.46806°E﻿ / 3.90056; 73.46806 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Himmafushi | 1,334 | 4°18′32″N 73°34′16″E﻿ / ﻿4.30889°N 73.57111°E﻿ / 4.30889; 73.57111 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Huraa | 1,014 | 4°20′01″N 73°36′03″E﻿ / ﻿4.33361°N 73.60083°E﻿ / 4.33361; 73.60083 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Kaashidhoo | 1,728 | 4°57′20″N 73°27′40″E﻿ / ﻿4.95556°N 73.46111°E﻿ / 4.95556; 73.46111 | Kaashidhoo Island | |
| Maafushi | 2,631 | 3°56′26″N 73°29′22″E﻿ / ﻿3.94056°N 73.48944°E﻿ / 3.94056; 73.48944 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Thulusdhoo | 1,133 | 4°22′26″N 73°39′03″E﻿ / ﻿4.37389°N 73.65083°E﻿ / 4.37389; 73.65083 | North Malé Atoll | Capital of the Malé Atoll administrative division. |

### 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 | Geographic Atoll | Remarks |
| Asdhoo | Asdu Sun Island Resort | 4°27′58″N 73°39′40″E﻿ / ﻿4.46611°N 73.66111°E﻿ / 4.46611; 73.66111 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Akirifushi | Oblu Select at Sangeli | 4°38′15″N 73°24′2″E﻿ / ﻿4.63750°N 73.40056°E﻿ / 4.63750; 73.40056 | North Malé Atoll | Opening in July 2018. |
| Baros | Baros Island Resort | 4°17′05″N 73°25′38″E﻿ / ﻿4.28472°N 73.42722°E﻿ / 4.28472; 73.42722 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Biyadhoo | Biyadhoo Island Resort | 3°55′19″N 73°27′23″E﻿ / ﻿3.92194°N 73.45639°E﻿ / 3.92194; 73.45639 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Bodubandos | Bandos Maldives Resort | 4°16′10″N 73°29′29″E﻿ / ﻿4.26944°N 73.49139°E﻿ / 4.26944; 73.49139 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Bodufinolhu | Fun Island Resort | 3°51′27″N 73°27′23″E﻿ / ﻿3.85750°N 73.45639°E﻿ / 3.85750; 73.45639 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Boduhithi | Coco Bodu Hithi Resort | 4°25′49″N 73°23′04″E﻿ / ﻿4.43028°N 73.38444°E﻿ / 4.43028; 73.38444 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Boduhuraa | Naladhu Private Island | 3°58′17″N 73°30′23″E﻿ / ﻿3.97139°N 73.50639°E﻿ / 3.97139; 73.50639 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Bolifushi | Jumeirah Vittaveli | 4°05′45″N 73°24′05″E﻿ / ﻿4.09583°N 73.40139°E﻿ / 4.09583; 73.40139 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Dhigufinolhu | Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort | 3°58′20″N 73°30′08″E﻿ / ﻿3.97222°N 73.50222°E﻿ / 3.97222; 73.50222 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Enboodhoo | Embudu Village | 4°05′02″N 73°30′43″E﻿ / ﻿4.08389°N 73.51194°E﻿ / 4.08389; 73.51194 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Enboodhoofinolhu | Taj Exotica Resort & Spa | 4°06′11″N 73°31′31″E﻿ / ﻿4.10306°N 73.52528°E﻿ / 4.10306; 73.52528 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Eriyadhoo | smartline Eriyadu | 4°35′24″N 73°24′52″E﻿ / ﻿4.59000°N 73.41444°E﻿ / 4.59000; 73.41444 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Farukolhufushi | Formerly Club Med and then Club Faru | 4°13′51″N 73°32′38″E﻿ / ﻿4.23083°N 73.54389°E﻿ / 4.23083; 73.54389 | North Malé Atoll | Resort closed – island now part of Hulhumalé. |
| Fihalhohi | Fihalhohi Island Resort | 3°52′38″N 73°22′01″E﻿ / ﻿3.87722°N 73.36694°E﻿ / 3.87722; 73.36694 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Furan-nafushi | The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa | 4°14′59″N 73°32′44″E﻿ / ﻿4.24972°N 73.54556°E﻿ / 4.24972; 73.54556 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Gasfinolhu | Club Med The Finolhu Villas | 4°21′40″N 73°37′34″E﻿ / ﻿4.36111°N 73.62611°E﻿ / 4.36111; 73.62611 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Giraavaru | Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives | 4°12′01″N 73°24′46″E﻿ / ﻿4.20028°N 73.41278°E﻿ / 4.20028; 73.41278 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Helengeli | Oblu by Atmosphere at Helengeli | 4°38′04″N 73°33′48″E﻿ / ﻿4.63444°N 73.56333°E﻿ / 4.63444; 73.56333 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Henbadhoo | Vivanta by Taj - Coral Reef Maldives | 4°28′53″N 73°23′35″E﻿ / ﻿4.48139°N 73.39306°E﻿ / 4.48139; 73.39306 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Ihuru | Angsana Ihuru | 4°18′24″N 73°24′57″E﻿ / ﻿4.30667°N 73.41583°E﻿ / 4.30667; 73.41583 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Kandoomaafushi | Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma | 3°54′12″N 73°28′24″E﻿ / ﻿3.90333°N 73.47333°E﻿ / 3.90333; 73.47333 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Kanifinolhu | Club Med Kani | 4°20′36″N 73°36′29″E﻿ / ﻿4.34333°N 73.60806°E﻿ / 4.34333; 73.60806 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Kanuhuraa | Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives | 4°19′06″N 73°35′30″E﻿ / ﻿4.31833°N 73.59167°E﻿ / 4.31833; 73.59167 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Kodhipparu | Grand Park Kodhipparu | 4°15′35″N 73°22′48″E﻿ / ﻿4.25972°N 73.38000°E﻿ / 4.25972; 73.38000 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Kudabandos | Malahini Kuda Bandos | 4°15′49″N 73°29′59″E﻿ / ﻿4.26361°N 73.49972°E﻿ / 4.26361; 73.49972 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Kudahithi | Coco Prive | 4°25′01″N 73°22′48″E﻿ / ﻿4.41694°N 73.38000°E﻿ / 4.41694; 73.38000 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Kudahuraa | Four Seasons Resort | 4°19′41″N 73°35′51″E﻿ / ﻿4.32806°N 73.59750°E﻿ / 4.32806; 73.59750 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Lankanfinolhu | Villa Nautica | 4°17′06″N 73°33′13″E﻿ / ﻿4.28500°N 73.55361°E﻿ / 4.28500; 73.55361 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Lhohifushi | Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi | 4°21′02″N 73°37′05″E﻿ / ﻿4.35056°N 73.61806°E﻿ / 4.35056; 73.61806 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Maadhoo | Ozen by Atmosphere at Madhoo | 3°52′15″N 73°27′31″E﻿ / ﻿3.87083°N 73.45861°E﻿ / 3.87083; 73.45861 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Mahaanaélhihuraa | Rihiveli The Dream by Save The Dream Maldives | 3°48′43″N 73°24′41″E﻿ / ﻿3.81194°N 73.41139°E﻿ / 3.81194; 73.41139 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Makunudhoo | Makunudu Island | 4°32′33″N 73°24′20″E﻿ / ﻿4.54250°N 73.40556°E﻿ / 4.54250; 73.40556 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Makunufushi | Como Coco Island | 3°55′04″N 73°28′11″E﻿ / ﻿3.91778°N 73.46972°E﻿ / 3.91778; 73.46972 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Medhufinolhu | One & Only Reethi Rah | 4°30′50″N 73°22′09″E﻿ / ﻿4.51389°N 73.36917°E﻿ / 4.51389; 73.36917 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Meerufenfushi | Meeru Island Resort & Spa | 4°27′13″N 73°43′00″E﻿ / ﻿4.45361°N 73.71667°E﻿ / 4.45361; 73.71667 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Nakachchaafushi | Huvafen Fushi Maldives | 4°22′06″N 73°22′12″E﻿ / ﻿4.36833°N 73.37000°E﻿ / 4.36833; 73.37000 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Olhahali/Olhuhali | Lux* North Malé Atoll | 4°41′23″N 73°27′04″E﻿ / ﻿4.68972°N 73.45111°E﻿ / 4.68972; 73.45111 | North Malé Atoll | Opening October 2018. |
| Olhuveli | Olhuveli Beach & Spa | 3°51′01″N 73°27′18″E﻿ / ﻿3.85028°N 73.45500°E﻿ / 3.85028; 73.45500 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Ran-naalhi | Adaaran Club Rannalhi | 3°54′11″N 73°21′27″E﻿ / ﻿3.90306°N 73.35750°E﻿ / 3.90306; 73.35750 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Thulhaagiri | Thulhagiri Island Resort and Spa Maldives | 4°18′41″N 73°29′14″E﻿ / ﻿4.31139°N 73.48722°E﻿ / 4.31139; 73.48722 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Vaadhoo | Adaaran Prestige Vadoo | 4°07′26″N 73°27′26″E﻿ / ﻿4.12389°N 73.45722°E﻿ / 4.12389; 73.45722 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Vabbinfaru | Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru | 4°18′35″N 73°25′26″E﻿ / ﻿4.30972°N 73.42389°E﻿ / 4.30972; 73.42389 | North Malé Atoll | |
| Velassaru | Velassaru Maldives | 4°07′17″N 73°26′13″E﻿ / ﻿4.12139°N 73.43694°E﻿ / 4.12139; 73.43694 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Veliganduhuraa | Anantara Veli Maldives | 3°58′2″N 73°30′19″E﻿ / ﻿3.96722°N 73.50528°E﻿ / 3.96722; 73.50528 | South Malé Atoll | |
| Vihamanaafushi | Kurumba Maldives | 4°13′36″N 73°31′11″E﻿ / ﻿4.22667°N 73.51972°E﻿ / 4.22667; 73.51972 | North Malé Atoll | The first resort island in the Maldives. |
| Villingilivaru | Formerly Dream Island Maldives | 3°54′51″N 73°27′20″E﻿ / ﻿3.91417°N 73.45556°E﻿ / 3.91417; 73.45556 | South Malé Atoll | This resort is closed. |
| Ziyaaraiffushi | Summer Island Maldives | 4°31′59″N 73°22′20″E﻿ / ﻿4.53306°N 73.37222°E﻿ / 4.53306; 73.37222 | North Malé Atoll | |
* ↑ Since 1983, new management since May 2018 under Rihiveli The Dream Archived 2020-12-22 at the Wayback Machine.

### Other Uninhabited Islands

| Name | Current use | Coordinates | Geographic Atoll/Island |
| Aarah | | 4°13′48″N 73°29′40″E﻿ / ﻿4.23000°N 73.49444°E﻿ / 4.23000; 73.49444 | North Malé Atoll |
| Akirifushi | | 4°38′15″N 73°24′2″E﻿ / ﻿4.63750°N 73.40056°E﻿ / 4.63750; 73.40056 | North Malé Atoll |
| Dhoonidhoo | Detention facility | 4°11′49″N 73°30′49″E﻿ / ﻿4.19694°N 73.51361°E﻿ / 4.19694; 73.51361 | North Malé Atoll |
| Erruh-huraa | | 3°48′53″N 73°24′58″E﻿ / ﻿3.81472°N 73.41611°E﻿ / 3.81472; 73.41611 | South Malé Atoll |
| Feydhoofinolhu | | 4°12′50″N 73°29′8″E﻿ / ﻿4.21389°N 73.48556°E﻿ / 4.21389; 73.48556 | North Malé Atoll |
| Funadhoo | Oil storage | 4°11′1″N 73°31′4″E﻿ / ﻿4.18361°N 73.51778°E﻿ / 4.18361; 73.51778 | North Malé Atoll |
| Girifushi | Military Base | 4°19′6″N 73°34′42″E﻿ / ﻿4.31833°N 73.57833°E﻿ / 4.31833; 73.57833 | North Malé Atoll |
| Gulheegaathuhuraa | Staff accommodation for nearby resort | 3°58′36″N 73°30′23″E﻿ / ﻿3.97667°N 73.50639°E﻿ / 3.97667; 73.50639 | South Malé Atoll |
| Huraagandu | | 4°21′58″N 73°37′20″E﻿ / ﻿4.36611°N 73.62222°E﻿ / 4.36611; 73.62222 | North Malé Atoll |
| Kagi | | 4°40′37″N 73°30′3″E﻿ / ﻿4.67694°N 73.50083°E﻿ / 4.67694; 73.50083 | North Malé Atoll |
| Kalhuhuraa | | 4°0′34″N 73°22′22″E﻿ / ﻿4.00944°N 73.37278°E﻿ / 4.00944; 73.37278 | South Malé Atoll |
| Kanduoih-giri | | 4°15′28″N 73°32′26″E﻿ / ﻿4.25778°N 73.54056°E﻿ / 4.25778; 73.54056 | North Malé Atoll |
| Kudafinolhu | | 3°51′54″N 73°27′30″E﻿ / ﻿3.86500°N 73.45833°E﻿ / 3.86500; 73.45833 | South Malé Atoll |
| Lhosfushi | | 3°53′49″N 73°28′11″E﻿ / ﻿3.89694°N 73.46972°E﻿ / 3.89694; 73.46972 | South Malé Atoll |
| Madivaru | | 4°30′2″N 73°22′5″E﻿ / ﻿4.50056°N 73.36806°E﻿ / 4.50056; 73.36806 | North Malé Atoll |
| Maniyafushi | | 4°3′21″N 73°24′40″E﻿ / ﻿4.05583°N 73.41111°E﻿ / 4.05583; 73.41111 | South Malé Atoll |
| Oligandufinolhu | | 3°48′42″N 73°25′4″E﻿ / ﻿3.81167°N 73.41778°E﻿ / 3.81167; 73.41778 | South Malé Atoll |
| Rasfari | | 4°23′40″N 73°21′5″E﻿ / ﻿4.39444°N 73.35139°E﻿ / 4.39444; 73.35139 | North Malé Atoll |
| Thanburudhoo | | 4°18′55″N 73°35′3″E﻿ / ﻿4.31528°N 73.58417°E﻿ / 4.31528; 73.58417 | North Malé Atoll |
| Thilafushi | Industrial | 4°11′0″N 73°26′44″E﻿ / ﻿4.18333°N 73.44556°E﻿ / 4.18333; 73.44556 | North Malé Atoll |
| Thunbafushi | Industrial | 4°35′23″N 73°35′23″E﻿ / ﻿4.58972°N 73.58972°E﻿ / 4.58972; 73.58972 | North Malé Atoll |
| Vaagali | | 3°56′54″N 73°21′22″E﻿ / ﻿3.94833°N 73.35611°E﻿ / 3.94833; 73.35611 | South Malé Atoll |
| Vabboahuraa | | 4°19′9″N 73°35′46″E﻿ / ﻿4.31917°N 73.59611°E﻿ / 4.31917; 73.59611 | North Malé Atoll |
| Vammaafushi | | 3°56′55″N 73°29′46″E﻿ / ﻿3.94861°N 73.49611°E﻿ / 3.94861; 73.49611 | North Malé Atoll |
| Velifaru | | | Gaafaru Atoll |
| Villingilimathidhahuraa | | 4°22′37″N 73°39′46″E﻿ / ﻿4.37694°N 73.66278°E﻿ / 4.37694; 73.66278 | North Malé Atoll |

## Gallery

* Island of Lankanfushi from Lankanfinolhu- two of the tourist resorts
* Malé, the capital of the Maldives, as viewed from Vilingilli island
* Surfing at Lohi's Break, off Lhohifushi island
* Beach on Biyaadhoo Island, 2014.
* Kanifinolhu Islet
* Aarah Island
* Aerial view of Guriadhoo Island in South Malé Atoll