Staycations Did the Heavy Lifting
Minor Hotels, the international hospitality group behind Anantara, Avani, NH Collection and Tivoli, is putting more money into the UAE, and it is giving domestic staycations credit for keeping the business steady during a tougher stretch for international travel.
According to the company's Middle East leadership, UAE residents booking local getaways played a critical role in sustaining hotel occupancy when international arrivals slowed. That local demand acted as a buffer, keeping revenue relatively stable even as global travel patterns shifted. It is a pattern echoed elsewhere in the market, with UAE hotels bracing for a broader tourism rebound as travel confidence returns across key source markets.
A Bigger Footprint Across the Emirates
With visitor confidence now recovering, Minor Hotels is moving from a defensive posture into expansion mode. The group plans to grow its brand portfolio across the UAE, building on its existing presence with new management contracts and property additions designed to capture both leisure and business travellers as the market strengthens heading into the busier winter season, a trend also reflected in Dubai hotels gearing up for a busy fourth quarter on the back of rebounding UK and Russian bookings.
| Brand | Positioning |
|---|---|
| Anantara | Luxury resorts |
| Avani | Upscale lifestyle hotels |
| NH Collection | Urban business hotels |
| Tivoli | Premium hospitality |
| Sharjah Collection (new) | Seven nature-based and heritage-inspired properties |
The Sharjah Collection Bet
The centrepiece of the expansion is Minor Hotels taking over management of the Sharjah Collection, a group of seven nature-based and heritage-inspired properties. The deal gives the group a distinct niche within the UAE market, one built around eco-tourism and cultural heritage rather than the high-rise luxury positioning most associated with Dubai. It is a bet that a growing segment of travellers, both regional and international, want experiences tied to nature and local heritage rather than skyline views alone.
What Comes Next for UAE Hospitality
Looking ahead, Minor Hotels expects the broader UAE hospitality market to stay strong, supported by rising leisure travel, demand for premium experiences and continued government investment in tourism infrastructure. For an industry that leaned hard on domestic demand during a slower patch, the expansion signals genuine confidence that the recovery has legs, not just a short-term bounce. For UAE hoteliers, developers and tourism boards, the message is straightforward: the staycation era proved the market's resilience, and now the international rebound is the next growth phase to plan around.
