Anantara to debut in Dubai with resort on The Palm
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has unveiled its first hotel in Dubai on the crescent of The Palm Jumeirah, slated to open in September 2013.
The Anantara Dubai Palm Jumeirah Resort & Spa, owned by Dubai-based Seven Tides, was formerly signed by Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts and known as the Royal Amwaj Resort.
However, in October 2012, Seven Tides said it was in talks with a new potential operator for the heavily delayed Asian-style resort, which had originally been scheduled to open in 2010.
“Anantara was chosen after a lengthy selection process involving a number of international management companies. We found that Anantara’s brand DNA was a perfect match with our aspirations for this luxurious property, not just through its Asian design-led proposition, but beyond to encompass the complete guest experience,” Seven Tides CEO Abdulla Bin Sulayem said.
The resort comprises 293 guest rooms and suites clustered in units of four to eight, with 130 rooms featuring direct access to 11,000 square metres of lagoon pools, 12 beach villas, 18 over-water villas and three Royal Beach Villas.
Facilities include a private beach, three natural lagoons, water sports, a shoreline infinity pool, an Anantara Spa sanctuary with 12 treatment rooms, a fitness studio and two tennis courts. An entertainment area will be accompanied by meeting rooms, and a ballroom accommodating 300 people next to the private beach.
Six themed restaurants and bars include an all-day dining restaurant serving classic Middle Eastern and international cuisine, an Australian-inspired grill, an Asian-themed specialty restaurant, a beachfront Mediterranean restaurant, a lobby lounge with a dedicated shisha deck, and poolside refreshments.
Furthermore, Anantara’s signature ‘Dining by Design’ concept will invite guests to dine in a dream setting with a private chef and butler.
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“We are excited to announce our first Anantara property in Dubai which is a significant milestone for Minor. This new resort strengthens our footprint in the key strategic market of the UAE and I am confident it will greatly contribute to our success there,” commented William E. Heinecke, chairman and CEO of Minor International, the owning company of Asian operator Anantara.
“The resort and spa is primarily a leisure and incentive destination and will appeal to visitors from the GCC, Asia and of course the traditional inbound European markets,” added Bin Sulayem.
The Anantara Dubai Palm Jumeirah Resort & Spa is the fourth Anantara property in the UAE, after the group’s three existing Abu Dhabi properties including Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara located on Sir Bani Yas Island, and Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa in the city centre.
“Anantara Dubai Palm Jumeirah Resort & Spa consolidates our brand’s focus on iconic destinations and builds upon our growing collection of properties in some of the world’s most exciting cities,” said Minor Hotel Group CEO Dillip Rajakarier.