3 October 2026
Umm Al Quwain is getting its first Anantara. On 3 October 2026 ground was broken on Siniya Island for Anantara Siniya Island Resort and Anantara Sobha Siniya Island Residences, with 125 hotel rooms and 125 Anantara-branded residences due to open in 2030. The ceremony was attended by the Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, and followed a partnership agreement between Sobha Siniya FZE, a joint venture of Sobha Realty and Umm Al Quwain Properties, and Minor Hotels, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM). The island project covers about 23 million sq ft, more than 60% of the master plan is set aside for water, open and green space, and the island is about 50 minutes from Dubai, linked to the mainland by a bridge of about 1.7 km.
What was announced
Two things happened on the same day. First, Sobha Siniya Island and Minor Hotels announced a strategic partnership that brings the Anantara Hotels & Resorts brand to Umm Al Quwain for the first time. Second, the partners laid the foundation stone for the resort and the branded residences on the island. The key facts from the WAM release are below.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Projects | Anantara Siniya Island Resort and Anantara Sobha Siniya Island Residences |
| Hotel | 125 rooms |
| Branded residences | 125 units under the Anantara brand |
| Opening | 2030 |
| Developer | Sobha Siniya FZE, joint venture of Sobha Realty and Umm Al Quwain Properties |
| Hotel operator | Minor Hotels (Anantara Hotels & Resorts) |
| Island project area | about 23 million sq ft |
| Water, open and green space | more than 60% of the master plan |
| Access | bridge of about 1.7 km to the mainland, about 50 minutes to Dubai |
Prices, unit sizes, payment plans and the investment value of the resort were not disclosed in the announcement.
Who signed and who attended
The partnership agreement was signed for Sobha Siniya Island by board member Sheikh Mansour Al Mualla and managing director Francis Alfred, and for Minor Hotels by Amir Golbarg, chief operating officer for the Middle East and Africa. The ceremony on the island was also attended by the Deputy Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saud Al Mualla, Sobha Group chairman Ravi Menon and William Heinecke, founder and chairman of Minor International, the group behind Minor Hotels.
Francis Alfred said the island was designed around its natural setting and that the groundbreaking is a step towards turning the master plan into reality. William Heinecke said the UAE is an important part of the group’s growth and that Siniya Island adds a new destination with a distinctive location to its portfolio.
How the Siniya Island project started
The Anantara deal is the latest stage of a project that began in 2024. On 14 July 2024 Umm Al Quwain Properties and Sobha Realty signed a partnership agreement at the Amiri Diwan to develop a luxury project on Al Siniya Island. The signatories were Sheikh Mansour bin Ibrahim Al Mualla, general manager of Umm Al Quwain Properties, and PNC Menon, founder and chairman of Sobha. Sobha described it as its first project outside Dubai. The project was presented to the public on the evening of 16 July 2024 at Al Ittihad Hall in Umm Al Quwain.
The amenities listed by WAM in 2024 include a family golf course, a floating pavilion, an events hall, a helix bridge, a light and water show, white sand beaches, mangrove and tidal trails, a community centre, an eco park and areas for motorised and non-motorised watercraft.
- 14 July 2024: partnership agreement between Umm Al Quwain Properties and Sobha Realty;
- 16 July 2024: public launch of the Siniya Island project;
- 3 October 2026: agreement with Minor Hotels and groundbreaking for the Anantara resort and residences;
- 2030: planned opening of the resort and the branded residences.
The island
Siniya Island lies off the coast of Umm Al Quwain and, according to WAM, is one of the largest natural islands in the UAE. It has mangroves, beaches and a wide range of wildlife and marine life, as well as important archaeological sites, including a monastery dating to the sixth century AD and stone circles that reflect the island’s historic role in trade across the Gulf.
The Sobha Siniya Island project is being developed as a low-density coastal community with apartments, villas, resorts, leisure facilities and open green areas. The resort is planned around the island’s natural features, from mangroves and beaches to its wildlife. Low density is written into the numbers: more than 60% of the master plan goes to water bodies, open space and green areas.
Anantara in the UAE
Anantara already operates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah and has a project planned in Sharjah. Counting the Sharjah project, Umm Al Quwain becomes the fifth emirate on the brand’s UAE map. In Sharjah, the developer Arada awarded an AED 618 million construction contract for Anantara Sharjah Resort and Residences on Al Heera Beach in August 2025, with a construction period of 24 months, WAM reported at the time.
Large master plans in the northern emirates are not limited to Umm Al Quwain. In Ajman, for example, GJ Properties plans an AED 8.5 billion masterplan with 27 towers, as we reported on 30 September 2026.
What this means for buyers, investors and companies
The announcement does not change any law, fee or licensing procedure. It sets a date, an operator and a scale for one project. For people and businesses looking at it, the practical points are these.
- Buyers of branded residences: the release names the number of units, 125, and the opening year, 2030, but not prices or payment terms. Before paying a deposit for any off-plan unit, ask the developer for the project registration and escrow account details and check them with the land registration authority of the emirate.
- Buyers using finance: banks assess off-plan and completed property differently, and terms depend on residency status. Our guide to mortgages in the UAE for residents and non-residents explains what banks ask for.
- Residence through property: the 10-year Golden Visa for property investors requires property worth at least AED 2 million. Whether a specific unit qualifies depends on its value and status, which the announcement does not give.
- Contractors and suppliers: a resort and residences opening in 2030 mean construction, fit-out and supply contracts in the years before opening, and hotel operations after. A company that wants to bid needs a UAE licence with the right activities and a working corporate bank account before tenders open.
How Atlant Capital can help
We work on the corporate side of property and hospitality projects, not on brokerage. If you plan to hold property in Umm Al Quwain, Dubai or another emirate through a UAE company, the company has to be registered and able to make payments before the first instalment. We handle company formation in the UAE, on the mainland or in a free zone, with activities suited to holding and leasing property, and run corporate bank account opening.
For contractors, hospitality suppliers and service companies that want to work on resort projects in the northern emirates, we set up the company with the activities that tenders require, open its account and arrange work permits and residence visas for the team. If you are comparing emirates for a purchase or a new company, tell us what you plan and we will set out the options side by side.
Conclusion
Umm Al Quwain broke ground on 3 October 2026 on its first Anantara resort and Anantara-branded residences, 125 rooms and 125 units on Siniya Island, scheduled to open in 2030. The project is developed by Sobha Siniya FZE, the joint venture of Sobha Realty and Umm Al Quwain Properties formed after their July 2024 agreement, with Minor Hotels as operator. The island covers about 23 million sq ft, with more than 60% of the master plan kept for water and green space, a 1.7 km bridge to the mainland and about 50 minutes to Dubai.
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM).
FAQ
What is Anantara Siniya Island?
Anantara Siniya Island is a resort with 125 hotel rooms, built together with Anantara Sobha Siniya Island Residences, 125 Anantara-branded homes, on Siniya Island in Umm Al Quwain. Ground was broken on 3 October 2026 and both are due to open in 2030. It is the first Anantara project in Umm Al Quwain.
Who is developing Sobha Siniya Island?
The developer is Sobha Siniya FZE, a joint venture of Sobha Realty and Umm Al Quwain Properties. The two companies signed their partnership agreement on 14 July 2024, and Sobha described Siniya Island as its first project outside Dubai. Minor Hotels will operate the resort under the Anantara brand.
How far is Siniya Island from Dubai?
Siniya Island is about 50 minutes from Dubai, according to WAM. It lies off the coast of Umm Al Quwain and will be connected to the mainland by a bridge of about 1.7 km.
How big is the Sobha Siniya Island project?
The project covers about 23 million sq ft and is planned as a low-density coastal community with apartments, villas, resorts and leisure facilities. More than 60% of the master plan is set aside for water bodies, open space and green areas.
