Minor Hotels to open Avani property in RAK in 2019

Minor Hotels has signed a management agreement for a new Avani property in the United Arab Emirates – the Avani Al Marjan Island Ras Al Khaimah Resort.

The new property will be developed by real estate developer Crowngate International and is scheduled to open in late 2019.

The 225-key Avani Al Marjan Island will be located on View Island, which will comprise retail destinations, hotels and resorts.

Facilities at the purpose-built resort will include king, twin and disabled access guest rooms and Avani Suites, an Avani living space and pantry.

The resort will also host all day dining and poolside restaurants, meeting and event facilities with a capacity of 200 people, a kids’ club and a spa. In addition, the new resort will have an outdoor swimming pool and beachfront access with 360-degree views.

Minor Hotels’ luxury Anantara brand already has a new resort under development in the emirate – the 225-key Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort is scheduled to open in 2019.

Minor Hotels currently operates 10 properties across four of its brands in the UAE in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The group’s pipeline for Avani hotels includes two other upcoming properties in the UAE – the 372-key Avani Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel and the 230-key Avani Jebel Dhanna Resort, both scheduled to open in 2019. The brand was initially supposed to have a project on the Deira Islands, but that is no longer on the cards.

Ramzy Fenianos, VP development, Minor Hotels Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: "We are delighted to announce the signing of this management agreement with Crowngate International to bring Avani to the fast developing tourism destination of Ras Al Khaimah. We see a lot of potential in the emirate, both for our upscale Avani brand and in the luxury segment, where we already have an Anantara resort under development."

Crowngate International founding partner Joe McCormack added: "Crowngate is thrilled to be announcing our new Al Marjan hotel resort in Ras Al Khaimah, which is fast becoming the emirate of tomorrow.

"To be in partnership with such a prominent global hotel management company as Minor Hotels, brings global recognition, unrivalled expertise, as well as a proven, luxury hotel brand portfolio."