New GM appointed at Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort

Minor Hotels has appointed Sonia Sammut as General Manager of Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort, effective 1 January 2026, where she will oversee the five-star private‑island property set on an archipelago off the coast of Dubai.

Sammut steps into the role after 18 months as Resort Manager, during which she oversaw operations across the resort’s 70 villas and helped sharpen its positioning within Dubai’s growing collection of upscale offshore escapes. Her remit included leading a multicultural team and refining the guest journey at the property, which is accessed by boat from the city’s coastline.

With close to two decades in luxury hospitality, Sammut has held a series of operational and leadership roles with Minor Hotels in Dubai. At Anantara The Palm Dubai Residences, she rolled out a facilities management programme and sustainability-focused initiatives aimed at improving the residential experience, and earlier contributed to the pre-opening of Dukes Dubai, supporting recruitment, training and guest experience design.

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Prior to this, she served as Guest Relations Manager at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa in Dubai, having started her career in Malta as a Club Lounge Manager for IHG. She is multilingual and holds advanced certifications in leadership, agile management and facilities management, reflecting a track record of people-first team development.

In her new post on The World Islands, Sammut will focus on sustaining service standards, strengthening owner relations and building on the resort’s appeal as a private‑island stay for GCC and international travellers. 

Commenting on the move, David Todd, Vice President Operations, Minor Hotels Middle East, described Sammut’s promotion as recognition of her “exceptional leadership, operational strength and unwavering dedication” to the Anantara brand, adding that the group expects her to further lift guest satisfaction and performance in her new capacity.