Anantara Hotels, Resorts, and Spas, part of Minor Hotels, is expanding its presence across the region with different new openings.

Last month, the chain opened the first luxury resort on Dubai’s World Islands archipelago. The new island resort is the first hotel in the South American continent of the development and offers guests a new luxury destination in Dubai and a unique perspective on the city.

The project has a wide selection of accommodation options across 70 suites, 40 beach and pool villas with an outdoor dining area and direct access to the beach. Interiors have a light contemporary feel with rattan detailing and turquoise accents, and many rooms have outdoor bathrooms.

Cinema under the Stars can be enjoyed in total peace and privacy, at the end of a sandbar, while Anantara’s signature Dining by Design has a special home in a bubble on the shoreline, with candle lit romance set to a soundtrack of lapping waves.

For experiences on the water, Anantara World Islands is the only hotel in Dubai where guests can relax on their own luxurious HamacLand, a unique floating lounge with hammocks and VIP food and drink service for guests to recline and enjoy a new perspective on the city. To explore the surrounding islands of ‘The World’, luxury boat cruises can also be arranged.

Dining options at the resort include Qamar, an Arabic-Indian restaurant with a large southwest facing deck, perfect for sundowners and shisha. Helios is a casual Mediterranean restaurant open daily for breakfast and beachside dining. Offering elevated panoramic views of the Dubai skyline is Luna, a stylish bar lounge for cocktails and light bites inspired by South American cuisine. Grand House is a lobby cafe serving coffee, cake and sandwiches throughout the day, overlooking the resort’s main swimming pool and deck. Freshly caught seafood is central to the culinary experience throughout the resort.

The Anantara Spa has six treatment rooms and spa cabanas on the beach and offers a range of spa and wellness therapies. For the more active, a well-equipped gym with skyline views makes for a great work out. The resort also offers a wide range of water sports including kayaks and stand-up paddleboards and yoga classes.

Also opening this year is The Plaza Doha by Anantara. The project will have 118 guest rooms as well as 174 serviced suites. It will bring multiple dining options, a rooftop infinity pool and an indoor swimming pool. It will also have a gym and a spa as well as a kids play area, a 1,200 square meter ballroom and six meeting rooms for business travelers.

Next year, Minor Hotels plans to open Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort. Part of the new Mina Al Arab luxury development, a beachfront playground with a marina, waterfront cafes and boutiques, the resort offers 174 guest rooms, suites and overwater villas in Maldivian resort style.

It will bring a specialty Asian lagoon restaurant, a seafood grill beach and pool restaurant, a beach and pool bar and an outdoor swimming pool. Facilities also encompass a health club – gym, aerobics and yoga studios and tennis courts. It will also have a discovery and eco-learning center and meeting spaces

Opening in late 2024 is the 233-room Anantara Sharjah Resort. The project will also have a signature overwater restaurant, a beachfront swimming pool, a spa and wellness center, a kids’ club and a ballroom for up to 540 persons banquet style.