The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), during its 19th consecutive participation at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, announced the expansion of Al Faya Retreat, increasing its accommodation capacity from five rooms to 20 accommodation units by the fourth quarter of 2026. The expansion forms part of an approach that connects hospitality development with sustainable cultural tourism, allowing more visitors to stay in Mleiha while preserving the retreat’s privacy and relationship with the surrounding desert landscape.

Al Faya Retreat is located within Mleiha National Park, which is home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Faya site, an exceptional record of human presence in desert environments and of people’s ability to move and adapt to climatic change over deep time. This context gives the expansion a purpose beyond accommodation, positioning the retreat as a starting point for understanding the archaeological and natural heritage of the place through a responsible visitor experience. Al Faya Retreat forms part of Sharjah Collection, developed by Shurooq to offer stays shaped by the nature and distinct character of their locations.

A visitor experience rooted in heritage and respectful of the site

The expansion will allow more visitors to stay at Al Faya Retreat and spend longer in Mleiha, deepening their connection with the place through archaeological sites, natural formations, desert journeys, night-sky observation, relaxation and contemplation. It also strengthens the retreat’s role as a gateway to cultural tourism, helping interpret the history of the area and connect visitors with its archaeological and environmental values, rather than treating the landscape simply as a visual backdrop to the hospitality experience.

The new accommodation units have been designed to balance increased capacity with the protection of the site’s archaeological and environmental character. Positioned individually across the desert terrain, they preserve open views and privacy while limiting visual impact and responding to heat and solar exposure. Manufactured off-site, the units reduce construction activity, excavation and material storage within the site, limiting direct intervention in the natural landscape. Works will be carried out in accordance with heritage protection and site-management requirements and in coordination with the relevant authorities, supporting the preservation of the site’s Outstanding Universal Value, integrity and authenticity.

Given Mleiha’s natural and archaeological significance, the expansion builds on the existing retreat rather than creating a separate hospitality development, allowing Shurooq to use its existing facilities and operational infrastructure without duplicating infrastructure or unnecessarily increasing the footprint of intervention.

The additional capacity is expected to support hospitality, transport, guided tours and other visitor-related services, while strengthening Mleiha’s position as a year-round cultural tourism destination, with consideration given to the site’s carrying capacity and the quality of the visitor experience.

Responsible growth that preserves the identity of the place

The expansion was presented during a press conference at ATM 2026, where Shurooq outlined the strategic vision, design approach and hospitality perspective behind the announcement.

H.E. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, CEO of Shurooq, said: “Al Faya Retreat has a clear identity and a hospitality experience closely connected to the nature of its setting, while its accommodation capacity has been deliberately limited since its launch to preserve the privacy of the experience and its connection to the site. The expansion therefore allows us to welcome more visitors and develop the experience we offer them without changing the elements that have given the retreat its distinct character. This is the approach we follow across our destinations: directing investment towards what creates genuine value for the destination and the visitor, while preserving what deserves protection as the destination grows and evolves.”

H.E. added: “For Shurooq, growth does not simply mean making a destination bigger, but allowing it to evolve in a way that suits its setting and identity. At Al Faya Retreat, that means increasing our capacity to welcome visitors and expanding the experience while respecting the site’s natural and archaeological value and minimising intervention wherever possible. This balance between development and preservation is what we want to define the long-term growth of our destinations.”

Addressing the project’s design approach, Khawla Al Hashimi, Chief Projects Officer at Shurooq, said: “At Al Faya, good design is measured as much by what we choose not to add as by what we build. We considered the entire guest journey: the sense of arrival, the movement between spaces, the way views are revealed and the rhythm created by moments of openness and enclosure. The architecture is intentionally quiet and precise, allowing the desert to remain the dominant experience. That discipline gives the project its coherence and ensures that every element has a clear purpose.”

Commenting on Minor Hotels’ role within Sharjah Collection, Amir Golbarg, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East & Africa at Minor Hotels, said: “We are very pleased to be part of this next chapter for Al Faya Retreat. Sharjah Collection has a clear and distinctive identity, and our role is to support that identity through the quality of the guest experience. Minor Hotels brings global hospitality expertise while recognising that every destination in the collection must retain its own character. We look forward to working closely with Shurooq to create memorable stays that reflect the warmth, culture and individuality of Sharjah.”

Historic buildings remain at the heart of Al Faya

Al Faya Retreat occupies two restored buildings dating to the 1960s: a former medical clinic and a shop beside Mleiha’s oldest petrol station, whose historic fuel pump has been preserved. Adapted by Shurooq into the original five-room retreat, the buildings will now become spa and wellness spaces while remaining the property’s architectural heart and preserving their connection to local memory.

Al Faya within Sharjah Collection

Al Faya Retreat is one of seven nature- and heritage-led Sharjah Collection properties, alongside Al Badayer Retreat, Kingfisher Retreat, Moon Retreat, Najd Al Meqsar, Al Rayaheen Retreat and Nomad. Developed by Shurooq across Sharjah’s deserts, mountains, coastlines, mangroves and heritage settings, each property reflects the character of its location.

Minor Hotels is scheduled to assume management and operation of the collection from October 2026.

Shurooq at Arabian Travel Market

During its 19th consecutive participation at Arabian Travel Market, Shurooq is showcasing destinations including Mleiha National Park, Al Noor Island, Heart of Sharjah, House of Wisdom, Khorfakkan Beach, Al Heera Beach, The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah, The Serai Wing, Bait Khalid Bin Ibrahim, Jabal Adventures Khorfakkan and the Sharjah Collection.

Virtual reality, exhibits, digital storytelling and an interactive map connect the portfolio, highlighting experiences ranging from Mleiha’s human history and night skies to nature, knowledge and heritage hospitality across the emirate.