Minor Hotels Appoints Amir Golbarg as COO – Middle East and Africa

Minor Hotels has appointed Amir Golbarg as Chief Operating Officer – Middle East & Africa, effective 1 January 2026.

Career Journey:
- Began his hospitality career in 2007 at Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.
- Joined Minor Hotels in 2012 as Director of Operations & Hotel Openings in Bangkok.
- Later served internationally, including as Hotel Manager at Souq Waqif Hotel Doha.
- Returned in 2019 as Vice President Operations – Middle East & Africa, expanding his remit in 2021 to include Southern Africa, Mauritius, and Seychelles.
- Previously held senior roles with Al Rayyan and Katara Hospitality, contributing to projects like The Ritz-Carlton Doha and Raffles Singapore.

Achievements in 2025:
- Led the region to a record year of growth with strong performance and multiple new hotel signings.
- Oversaw award-winning properties:
- Anantara Downtown Dubai Hotel – #1 Favourite Business Hotel (Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards).
- Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort – No.1 Resort in North Africa & Middle East (Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards).
- Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara – received a Michelin Key.

Strategic Importance
- This promotion underscores Minor Hotels’ expansion momentum in key markets like Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
- CEO Dillip Rajakarier highlighted Amir’s leadership, market expertise, and commitment to excellence as pivotal to the group’s success.
- Amir is based in Minor Hotels’ Middle East Regional Office in Dubai.

About Minor Hotels
- Operates 640+ hotels, resorts, and branded residences across 59 countries.
- Portfolio includes Anantara, Avani, Tivoli, NH Collection, Oaks, Elewana Collection, Wolseley Hotels, and more.
- Member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), with unified loyalty program Minor DISCOVERY.

This appointment signals Minor Hotels’ confidence in Amir Golbarg to drive the next phase of growth and operational excellence across the Middle East & Africa.