Before guests even arrive at the resort their preferences are ascertained so their chosen films will be on the mac mini, their preferred beer and wine will be in the minibar, their pillow choice will be on their bed and so on and so forth. When guests are on the island the 3 meals are à la carte but the chefs will prepare whatever it is you fancy at any time.

There are no entry level rooms on Dhevanafushi. With just 38 rooms in total, it is top end only. A presidential villa is planned, and Jumeirah’s presidential villas are sometimes occupied by presidents. For now the top rooms are the 2 Ocean Sanctuaries that share the over-water resort with 14 Ocean Revives.

There is no jetty out to this resort within a resort as it stands alone on a small underwater sandbank 850 metres from the island. The rooms might be described as modern formal, not loungey but precise to a rich man’s taste. The views are even bigger than the rooms. From the extraordinary 3 x 2 metre bed you look out over your stand-alone bath to the pool on your wide deck and on to an empty sea.

Every room includes beds and facilities for accompanying staff, such as bodyguard, nanny or butler.  A resort butler is attached to each room and, after a discussion, sets up everything for the coming days and nights. The service and the unbidden treats and surprises often leads to a close relationship by the end of the stay.

As the daylight dims and evening comes on, the beauty and romance of the setting unfolds. The open restaurant becomes something softer, more informal, like a drawing room. Sofas and low tables lit by candles lie close to the pool that reflects the dying colours of the sky. Behind you is the warmly lit bar and to one side is the glass-walled library.

On the island, the bar and infinity pool also look out to the sunset. With the restaurant to one side and the reception nearby, this is the core of the resort outside of the rooms. Refined columns and narrow wooden staves in sharp rectangular forms give the space a handsome, elegant masculinity.

The island rooms are handsome too, softened by their interior decor. The 13 Beach Revives are on the beach edge with their pool beside them. The Island Revives have a second air-conditioned living room or second bedroom that creates a hot courtyard area around their pool. The single Island Sanctuary is one of the most spacious and generous rooms in the country, with its grand arrival courtyard and 3 pools, one of which has the second dining sala.

The sandy island path is behind the rooms, so there are almost no passing guests on the beach in front. There are palm trees on the beach side though in the main this is an island thick with indigenous broad leafed trees and screw pine. The beach is superb almost all the way around. As the island sits on the inside of a small channel, the current plays a significant role in the movement of the sand around the island. The position of the island also means that the snorkeling is absolutely first class. The coral reef is very healthy and the fish life is bountiful.

This atoll is possibly the best atoll of all for fish, reefs and idyllic little islands. Dhevanafushi has got one such perfect island for its Robinson Crusoe fantasy excursion: a deep, soft sandy beach, a small lagoon and a reef with turtles, sharks and passing dolphins. All this, just one couple and and no one else around (but always the finest things there ready for you).