Anantara Announces Development in Sultanate of Oman

Anantara will partner with Blue City Company 1 (BCC1) to develop the 100 room luxury resort and spa which will be located on a natural peninsula some 60 minutes from the historical city of Muscat.

Roger Kacou, Vice President of Hotels and Leisure, BCC1 said "I am delighted to be welcoming Anantara to Al Madina A'Zarqa. The alliance combines the strength of Anantara's experience in designing, developing and managing luxury hotel developments with Al Madina A'Zarqa's commitment to building a city of the future and placing Oman on the map as a premier tourist and business destination in the Middle East."

The luxury destination of Al Madina A'Zarqa will offer residents and visitors alike outstanding facilities, exceptional service and a broad range of rooms delivered in an environment of unmatched elegance and refined luxury. Guests staying at the resort can also indulge in a rejuvenating and relaxing spa experience at the award-winning Anantara Spa.

Dilip Rajakarier, Chief Operating Officer of Minor International PCL, the company heading Anantara , said: "We are excited to have signed this MOU with such a prestigious development as Al Madina A'Zarqa as a first step towards our entry in Oman. We believe Oman, with its rich culture and heritage, will be an ideal location for our luxury Anantara brand and will complement our developments throughout the GCC region. We are confident that this partnership will create one of the most talked-about destinations in the world."

A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Anantara recently launched the boutique Desert Islands Resort & Spa (Oct. 2008), which is the centre piece of the unique Sir Bani Yas island experience. In addition, the group is set to open Anantara Qasr Al Sarab (late 2009) in the inspiring Liwa desert in Arabia's Empty Quarter (Rub Al-Khali). The two Abu Dhabi based resorts will be the first Anantara-managed hotels in the Emirates. Prior to Desert Islands Resort & Spa, Anantara had planted its presence in the region with award-winning standalone spas located in the prestigious Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi and the 10,0000 sq foot Anantara Spa at Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea in Jordan.