Marking International Butler’s Day, SIX & SIX PRIVATE ISLANDS unveils Edhurun, a guest  philosophy that reimagines the butler tradition through a culturally grounded, psychologically attuned lens. While  many luxury resorts in the Maldives reference local heritage, few have embedded it so intentionally into the heart of  their service ethos. Edhurun signals a deeper shift—one that translates cultural insight into a refined Maldivian  expression of hosting, quiet in tone yet elevated in execution. 

Derived from the Maldivian word for “mentor,” Edhurun is not a job title but a principle: the art of knowing—without  being asked. It forms a foundation of the brand’s people philosophy, Rayyithun, ‘The People of the Islands,’ and will  debut at RAH GILI MALDIVES in early 2026, followed by DHON MAAGA MALDIVES in late 2026, with a portfolio-wide  rollout to follow. 

“This isn’t about adding another luxury label to service,” says Laith Pharaon, CEO and Co-Founder of SIX & SIX PRIVATE  ISLANDS. “It’s about removing what gets in the way—and honouring a kind of attention that feels instinctive, not  rehearsed. Edhurun reflects that belief.

Why Edhurun 

In Maldivian culture, the Edhurun is a mentor—respected not for instruction, but for presence. They guide through  example, listen more than they speak, and possess a quiet authority grounded in trust. This is the spirit that defines  the new hosting model at SIX & SIX. Hosts aren’t assigned to serve; they’re aligned with intention. Hospitality here is  not transactional—it’s a choreography of rhythm, ease, and emotional awareness. 

Attention is not announced. It’s simply felt. 

More Than a Butler: A Translator of Place 

Unlike traditional butler systems that prioritise efficiency and task execution, Edhurun is shaped by emotional  intelligence, refined sensitivity, and narrative memory. Guests are not matched by villa category or booking tier, but  by intention—whether seeking solitude, celebration, restoration, or creative clarity. 

There are no scripts. Instead, subtle gestures signal understanding: a villa layout adjusted to mirror how a guest  moved the day before. A note in the guest’s native language—brief, unsigned. A bottle of vintage wine uncorked  quietly, timed to the hour it was enjoyed the night before. Even discreet safety arrangements are managed  seamlessly. It’s hospitality pared back to its essence—where the rarest gesture isn’t attention, but understanding. 

“Edhurun isn’t a role you train into, it’s a mindset you cultivate,” said Marc Gussing, Director of Operations for SIX & SIX  PRIVATE ISLANDS. “Our guests arrive with high expectations—and rightly so. They notice what’s off before it’s said.  What we offer isn’t less service, it’s sharper and more personal. It takes a different kind of awareness to get that  right.” 

Recruitment Beyond Credentials 

This new model challenges traditional ideas of what qualifies someone to host at the highest level. While many will  come from leading global brands, the programme also welcomes those with natural emotional depth, cultural fluency,  and humility—qualities rarely listed on a CV. Training blends guest psychology, local heritage, and the quiet art of  observation. Hosts learn how to hold space rather than fill it. How to recognise when silence carries more meaning  than words. How to respond without overtaking. 

This approach also informs inclusive recruitment. Alongside seasoned professionals, the programme seeks women,  elders, and individuals with intuitive, interpersonal strengths. Their lived experience doesn’t lower standards—it  deepens them. Their inclusion isn’t symbolic—it’s strategic. 

A Cultural Anchor 

Rayyithun—The People of the Islands—anchors the SIX & SIX people philosophy. It reframes hospitality not as  performance, but presence. Roles like healer, builder, poet, or guide are treated not as tasks but as expressions of  identity and care. 

Seasonal apprenticeships, community-based learning, and co-created curriculums with island elders ensure that  traditional knowledge systems remain living, not preserved. Through oral traditions, rituals of welcome, and  intergenerational exchange, hosting becomes cultural stewardship. For the global traveller who has seen it all, this  offers something quietly different—where culture isn’t displayed, but felt.

For the Traveller Who Has Seen It All 

In today’s luxury landscape, privacy and comfort are givens. What sets an experience apart is how it makes you feel— without ever needing to announce itself. Here, Edhurun finds its quiet power. 

It doesn’t deliver excitement—it reflects intention. The host becomes an extension of the guest’s rhythm, responding  to energy and mood in subtle, almost unspoken ways, yet deeply profound. The luxury lies not in what is offered, but  in how it’s received. In presence, not performance. In listening, not leading. In a sense of ease that doesn’t feel  curated—it simply is. 

A Signature of the Brand 

As SIX & SIX PRIVATE ISLANDS evolves as a lifestyle-led luxury brand, Edhurun will become a defining signature across  all six islands. Following its debut at RAH GILI, the model will be implemented at DHON MAAGA, with future resorts  adapting the principle to reflect their own narrative while upholding the same commitment to intention-led  hospitality. A structured mentorship and performance framework will guide its consistency and growth. 

“This isn’t just a reinterpretation of butler service. It’s a return to something older—and in many ways, more refined,”  says Laith Pharaon. “The kind of hosting where nothing is announced, but everything is understood. Where stillness  carries weight. And where true luxury doesn’t need to be seen to be felt.” 

Edhurun is just one expression of Rayyithun, the brand’s people philosophy that will continue to take shape through  other roles rooted in Maldivian life—from the Masverin (Fishermen) and Raaverin (Toddy Tappers), to the Beruverin  (Drummers) and Beysverin (Healers). Each reflects a different way of being—and a different way of caring, with more  to come as the story unfolds. 

This is the way of the Edhurun. And they walk it quietly—beside you.