Overlooking a lush, mangrove-lined eco-reserve and pristine private beach, the Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort will soon become the Emirate’s first Maldivian-inspired destination. Slated for completion in 2022, the premier five-star hotel will feature 306 exquisitely appointed rooms, suites and overwater villas, in addition to a range of food and beverage outlets, a discovery and eco-learning center, a world-class wellness center –– complete with a state-of-the-art gym, aerobics and yoga studios, as well as squash and tennis courts –– an outdoor swimming pool, kids’ club, signature spa, and meeting and events spaces.
Developed by RAK Properties PJSC, the Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort is being designed for LEED Silver by the Dubai studio of global hospitality firm Wilson Associates, executed with Perkins Eastman Architects International.
Inspired by the organic contours of the biodiverse landscape on which the forthcoming Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort sits, the design concept respects the sanctity of the nearby reserve while balancing a sense of sophistication and intrigue through careful placemaking.
More than simply an abstract influence, Mina Al Arab’s iconic mangroves provide apièce de résistance for the overall scheme –– Perkins Eastman’s shell orientation capitalizes on views of the glittering waterways, stacked high with thick roots, while Wilson Associates’ interior design seeks to maintain the reserve’s integrity and longevity through a careful attention to sustainability, in keeping with the Dubai studio’s design philosophy.
Intended to protect the biodiverse site from being spoiled by development, these design influences culminate in an on-site, open-to-the-public discovery and eco-learning center. As part of this environmental responsibility pledge, RAK’s forthcoming mangrove management plan will ensure the natural habitats are protected and celebrated over time.
For the resort’s interiors, Wilson Associates took a natural approach to materiality, recalling the hues and textures of the iconic mangroves that hallmark the design concept for the destination hotel.
Celebrating refined craftsmanship, stone and wood accented with authentic finishes create an elevated palette –– a neutrality that will be accented by bright pops of color and trendy accessories to infuse a sense of playful leisure into the mindfulness of the design narrative. Both private and public spaces champion sustainability, as well as an ecological and cultural sensitivity, through a keen attention to detail –– with each furnishing and fixture selected in accordance with LEED standards, down to the custom basins found in the guest washrooms.
Culinary experiences will celebrate the flavours and specialties of Asia, where bamboo artwork will tie the menu to the interiors. Further anchoring the resort’s leisure spaces in the landscape, an upscale Thai restaurant will feature floating dining pods, mirroring the Maldivian-inspired overwater villas, while the main pool overlooks the mangroves. Each of these pieces come together in an aesthetic that will invite guests to relax and unwind in the tranquility of the locale, where earth, nature, and humanity combine in authentic luxury.
