Anantara is to spread its wings into Saudi Arabia with its first property opening in the year 2019 in the city of Jeddah.

The Anantara Jeddah Resort will be located on the waterfront in Obhur in the city’s upmarket northern district and will offer 226 guest rooms and 102 two- to five-bedroom villas, according to Minor Hotels, which owns and operates the luxury brand.

The property, which is owned by SAB Group, was previously a luxury residential compound and will undergo a renovation and transformation led by international design architects.

Facilities will include a selection of dining options with both indoor and outdoor seating, fitness and swimming pool areas, a kid’s and teen’s club and a library. For business guests, there is a 500-sq-m meeting room which is divisible by two, plus two further meeting rooms. The resort has two receptions and lobbies, one dedicated for VIP arrivals.

Spa and wellness will be a major focus of the resort, which will offer a female and male spa and an impressive wellness centre. An extensive selection of wellness journeys will be available, as part of Anantara’s ‘Balance’ programme. 

These will include detox, destress, weight management, anti-aging and rejuvenation, along with therapies such as ayurveda, hammam and reflexology. Guests will be able to enjoy wellness cuisine and healthy cooking classes, with activities including yoga, pilates and tai chi. In addition, the resort will offer a regular programme of wellness-focused educational workshops and special events.

The Obhur area is undergoing a significant transformation anchored by the development of the kilometre-high Kingdom Tower which will open in 2020. 

The Anantara Jeddah will offer stunning views of the nearby Kingdom Tower. 

William Heinecke, Chairman and CEO of Minor International, commented: “We are delighted to announce Anantara Jeddah which represents Minor Hotels’ debut in Saudi Arabia and grows our presence in the GCC to four countries. Minor Hotels has been looking for the right opportunity to expand into Saudi Arabia and we are pleased to be partnering with SAB Group to launch our luxury Anantara brand in this key strategic market.”

Sheikh Salah Al Belawi, Chairman of SAB Group, added: “We are excited to bring the concept, experience and legacy of Minor Hotels through their flagship Anantara Hotels and Resorts to Jeddah. The concept of a health and wellness resort is long overdue in KSA and our Obhor property lends itself to such a concept. We, at SAB Group, are very delighted to partner with Minor Hotels and host the Anantara brand. This venture subscribes to our Think Ahead philosophy and to our futuristic steps towards achieving Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”

Minor Hotels operates in 23 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe and South America. 

It currently operates nine Anantara properties in the Middle East and has a further strong pipeline in the region with new resorts under development in the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah), Bahrain, Morocco and Tunisia. 

Overall Minor Hotels currently operates 14 properties in the Middle East across four of its brands – Anantara, Avani, Oaks and Per Aquum.