The Mleiha desert retreat will undergo a major expansion by Q4 2026, while its existing guestrooms will be repurposed for spa and wellness facilities.
September 21, 2026 | Riya Malhotra | UAE | Developer | 2 Min Read
Image Courtesy: Zawya
Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) is expanding Al Faya Retreat in Mleiha, increasing its accommodation capacity from five rooms to 20 units by the fourth quarter of 2026.
The expansion was announced during Arabian Travel Market 2026 and forms part of Shurooq’s strategy to develop hospitality assets around Sharjah’s natural, cultural and archaeological destinations.
Located within Mleiha National Park, the retreat sits in a desert landscape connected to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Faya site.
Rather than simply adding rooms to the existing property, Shurooq is reconfiguring the retreat as part of the expansion.
The existing five guestrooms will be converted into spa and wellness spaces, while new accommodation will expand the retreat’s capacity while retaining its low-density desert positioning.
The expanded property is also expected to introduce an updated culinary offering as Shurooq develops Al Faya around accommodation, wellness, gastronomy and its surrounding landscape.
The original retreat was created by restoring buildings in the area that had been abandoned since the 1960s, including structures formerly used as a clinic and grocery store.
A significant operational change will accompany the physical expansion.
Minor Hotels is scheduled to assume management and operation of the collection from October 2026, bringing an international hospitality operator into the next phase of Al Faya Retreat.
The development sits within Shurooq’s wider portfolio of nature-focused hospitality assets, which also includes destinations such as Moon Retreat and Nomad.
By expanding capacity while maintaining a relatively small number of units, Shurooq is positioning Al Faya within Sharjah’s growing experiential and heritage-tourism offering rather than pursuing a conventional large-scale resort model.
Source: Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); Emirates News Agency (WAM), 16 September 2026.
