Minor Hotels Expands UAE Portfolio with Anantara Siniya Resort

Minor Hotels partners with Sobha Realty and Umm Al Quwain Properties to develop a 125-key Anantara resort and 125 branded residences on Siniya Island, with the destination scheduled to open in 2030.

Minor Hotels expands its UAE portfolio with the signing of Anantara Siniya Island Resort and Anantara Residences Sobha Siniya Island, marking the Anantara brand’s debut in Umm Al Quwain. The project is being developed in partnership with Sobha Al Siniya FZC, a joint venture between Sobha Realty and Umm Al Quwain Properties.

Scheduled to open in 2030, Anantara Siniya Island Resort will comprise 125 hotel keys, complemented by 125 Anantara-branded residences. The resort will serve as a key hospitality component of the wider Sobha Siniya Island masterplan, a low-density waterfront development combining residential, hospitality, leisure and open green spaces.

Also read: Walmart's $25 Vintage Christmas Runner Rug for Holiday Decor

The project draws on Siniya Island’s natural and cultural character, with the resort’s design and guest experience planned around its mangroves, beaches, wildlife and marine environment. The island also features archaeological sites, including a sixth-century monastery and historic stone circles that reflect its role in the Arabian Gulf’s trading history.

Sobha Siniya Island spans approximately 23 million sq ft, with more than 60% of its masterplan allocated to waterways, open areas and greenery. Located off the coast of Umm Al Quwain, the destination is around 50 minutes from Dubai and is connected to the mainland by a bridge measuring approximately 1.7 km.

The development strengthens Umm Al Quwain’s ambitions to expand its tourism and real estate sectors while establishing the emirate as a distinctive coastal destination. The partnership brings together Sobha Realty’s expertise in premium master-planned developments, the Government of Umm Al Quwain’s long-term development vision and Minor Hotels’ international hospitality experience.

William E. Heinecke, Founder and Chairman of Minor International, says the UAE remains an important part of the group’s growth strategy. He describes Siniya Island as a distinctive destination whose location and natural assets provide a strong setting for the Anantara brand.

Also read: High-Street vs Malls: Where Retail Growth Lies in 2026

Francis Alfred, Managing Director of Sobha Siniya Island, says Anantara’s hospitality approach complements the island’s natural character and supports the development’s focus on thoughtful design, distinctive experiences and quality.

The project also expands Anantara’s UAE presence beyond its existing and planned properties in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, with a further planned opening in Sharjah. For Minor Hotels, the Siniya Island development adds a new luxury resort and branded residential offering to its growing UAE pipeline.