Anantara Signs Island Resort in Qatar

Minor Hotel Group has partnered the Qatari owned company Al Rayyan Hospitality for its first property in Qatar.

Anantara Doha Island Resort & Spa is a 141-key five-star resort in the Persian Gulf, just off the coast of the country’s capital Doha, is scheduled to open in early 2014.

Qatar is rich in oil and natural gas reserves, with the world’s highest GDP per capita and is currently experiencing a significant boom in the real estate and hospitality sectors.

Located on a 13 hectare island, the new resort will be accessible by speedboat from Doha’s downtown area and from The Pearl, both journeys taking between 20-30 minutes.

With a total of 141 rooms, the 96 guest rooms, 34 pool villas and 11 two and three-bedroom over-water pool villas will offer guests a wide choice of room types in which to spend a break.

There will be four restaurants and bars, including a contemporary Japanese restaurant and an Arabic beach club.

A total of four pools will be spread throughout the resort’s lush grounds, including a large lagoon pool, directly accessible from many of the family guest rooms, a surf pool with wave machine and hydro exercise pools.

For spa lovers, the resort will offer both an Anantara Spa and an extensive Wellness & Holistic Centre, plus a 24-hour fitness centre and tennis court will be available for those wishing to keep up their fitness regimes.

The island will also be home to a marina accommodating up to 50 boats.

An extensive selection of family activities will be available including a kids club, a dedicated family beach with access to beach volleyball and water sports, a nine-hole golf putting course, a ten-pin bowling alley and a cinema.

An off-shore reef is also being developed and the resort will be home to a reef conservation centre, giving guests the opportunity to plant their own coral and learn more about the underwater environment. In addition there will be a fully equipped diving centre.

For business guests, the resort will offer a ballroom accommodating up to 250 people for a banquet. There will also be two meeting rooms for up to 50 delegates and an outdoor event space with a capacity to host up to 100 people.

When the new resort opens early next year, Qatar will be the second country of operation for Minor Hotel Group in the Middle East. The group currently has five properties currently in operation in the UAE – three Anantara properties in Abu Dhabi and two Oaks serviced suites, one in Dubai and one recently added in Abu Dhabi, with three further Anantara properties under development to open in the UAE this year – two villa properties on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and the group’s first resort in Dubai. In addition, 2014 will see the group opening in neighbouring Oman.

Mohammed Al Qahtani, President Al Rayyan Hospitality, said, “Anantara Doha Island Resort & Spa is going to be a truly unique concept for tourists to Qatar, as well as residents of the country. With Qatar quickly becoming a tourist hub for both business and leisure travellers, there is an escalating need for hospitality concepts that stand apart. As the group behind the success of Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, now a popular option for stays, dining outlets and entertainment, we are committed to offering the same world-class service that is characteristic of Al Rayyan Hospitality at this brand new upcoming island destination. We are thrilled to once again partner with Minor Hotel Group on a venture that we are confident will be more than welcome in Doha.”