Minor Hotels Elevates Sonia Sammut to General Manager at Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort

Minor Hotels has announced the promotion of Sonia Sammut to General Manager of Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort, effective January 2026. The leadership appointment follows a period of sustained operational progress at the private island property and reflects the company’s continued investment in internal talent development.

A Leadership Transition Built on Performance

Sammut steps into the General Manager role after serving as Resort Manager at the ultra-exclusive island destination. During her tenure, she played a central role in strengthening operational performance, enhancing guest satisfaction benchmarks, and aligning resort strategy with brand objectives.

Her leadership has contributed to the positioning of the property as one of Dubai’s most distinctive luxury retreats, offering private villas and personalised service within the World Islands development.

Nearly Two Decades of Luxury Hospitality Experience

With close to 20 years in the hospitality sector, Sammut brings broad experience across operations, residential hospitality, and pre-opening projects. She has held senior roles within the UAE hospitality landscape, gaining exposure to both resort and urban luxury environments.

Before joining Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort, Sammut oversaw operations at Anantara The Palm Dubai Residences, where she introduced structured facilities management systems and sustainability-focused initiatives aimed at elevating long-stay residential experiences.

Earlier in her career, she contributed to hotel openings and operational transitions in Dubai, building expertise in recruitment, training, guest relations, and service culture development.

Focus on Operational Excellence and Team Development

Known for her people-centric leadership style, Sammut is recognised for fostering multicultural team engagement while maintaining high service standards. Her background spans front office, housekeeping, engineering, and food and beverage coordination, enabling a comprehensive understanding of luxury resort operations.

She also holds advanced professional certifications in leadership and management, reinforcing her focus on structured performance improvement and team capability development.

Strengthening a Unique Island Destination

Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort continues to evolve as a boutique private island retreat offering exclusive villa stays and curated guest experiences. Under Sammut’s direction, the property is expected to continue refining its service delivery, partnership alignment, and long-term strategic positioning within Dubai’s competitive luxury hospitality landscape.

Her promotion reflects both individual achievement and the broader operational momentum of the resort as Minor Hotels expands its footprint across high-growth markets.