Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort has opened in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), bringing eco-luxury to Ras Al Khaimah.

Situated on a private peninsula with golden sands and natural mangroves, the 174-room resort was designed by Wilson Associates and Perkins Eastman.

Accommodation offerings include the emirate’s first over-water villas, each of which has a large outdoor deck with private plunge pool, a reserved cabana on the villa-only beach, and a dedicated Villa Host service.

Anantara Mina Al Arab also features six restaurants and bars. The resort’s signature restaurant, Mekong, offers a culinary journey through Thailand, Vietnam, and China. Beach House has a laidback Mediterranean vibe and serves fresh coastal cuisine. Sea Breeze is an all-day restaurant. Other drink and dine venues include a gourmet deli, a pool bar and a lobby lounge and bar. Private dining experiences are also available through the resort’s Dining by Design program.

The resort’s Anantara Spa is set within manicured gardens overlooking the sea and the mangroves, with facilities including seven treatment rooms and wet areas for men and women. Treatments incorporate indigenous ingredients, such as the Ras Al Khaimah Ritual with its body scrub made from dates, salt and honey from mangrove hives and extensive traditional therapies from Anantara’s native Thailand.

As with every Anantara resort, guests at Anantara Mina Al Arab have the opportunity to immerse in the destination and local culture. Signature experiences include hiking on nearby Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest mountain, with a gourmet picnic along the way, kayaking in the surrounding mangroves, home to flocks of flamingos and herons, as well as luxury cruising in the Arabian Gulf with a sunset dinner onboard prepared by a personal chef.

Ras Al Khaimah is known as the nature and adventure emirate and is renowned for its adrenaline-fueled experiences, such as the world’s longest zipline and tobogganing, both at the top of Jebel Jais. Guests can visit an Emirati pearl farm, or go hot-air ballooning over the desert.

In addition to exploring the emirate, the resort offers a variety of water sports and leisure facilities, including an infinity swimming pool, a fitness center overlooking the mangroves, a padel court, and a yoga pavilion.

Anantara Mina Al Arab’s green credentials showcase a commitment to preserving nature through actions and strategies that eliminate plastic use while reducing waste and energy consumption.  All accommodation has been sustainably built, with furniture and fittings using eco-friendly materials such as sustainable wood and recycled fabrics and plastics. Great care was taken not to disturb the surrounding eco-system, including the mangroves, home to sea turtles, migratory flocks of birds, and the occasional rare dugong, a relative of the manatee and sea cow.

The resort’s beaches and gardens may be used for events, with capacity for up to 450 guests.

“We are proud to launch our luxury Anantara brand in Ras Al Khaimah, which is the brand’s ninth property in the United Arab Emirates. We are confident that the new resort will be well received by the market and will help with the continued growth and positioning of the emirate as a luxury tourist destination,” said Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels, parent company of Anantara, and Group CEO of Minor International.

Sameh Muhtadi, CEO of RAK Properties, also commented, “The opening of the Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort will greatly contribute to realizing RAK Properties’ vision for Mina Al Arab, transforming it into the leading lifestyle destination within the emirate. This launch marks the second hospitality opening in our development, and we’re happy to be offering visitors a unique, new luxury beachfront experience that also respects the natural and stunning beauty of its environment.”

Anantara Mina Al Arab is less than an hour’s drive from Dubai International Airport, and just 30 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport.