Minor Hotels Appoints Amir Golbarg as Chief Operating Officer – Middle East & Africa

New role underscores exceptional regional results and continued expansion momentum

Minor Hotels has appointed Amir Golbarg to Chief Operating Officer – Middle East & Africa, effective 1 January 2026. The promotion reflects Amir’s exceptional leadership and the region’s record year of growth, marked by strong performance across all key indicators, multiple new hotel signings, and expansion in core markets including Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Under Amir’s direction, the Middle East & Africa portfolio earned numerous industry accolades in 2025. Anantara Downtown Dubai Hotel was named #1 Favourite Business Hotel in the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards, Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort was voted No.1 Resort in North Africa & the Middle East in Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards and ranked among the Top 100 Hotels in the World, while Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara received a Michelin Key.

Amir joined Minor Hotels in 2012 as Director of Operations & Hotel Openings in Bangkok, later serving in several international roles before becoming Hotel Manager at Souq Waqif Hotel Doha. Returning to the group in 2019 as Vice President Operations – Middle East & Africa, he drove operational excellence and strategic growth across the region’s diverse portfolio. His remit expanded in 2021 to include Southern Africa, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

Earlier in his career, Amir held senior roles with Al Rayyan and Katara Hospitality, contributing to landmark projects such as The Ritz-Carlton Doha and Raffles Singapore.

“Amir’s leadership, deep understanding of the market, and commitment to excellence have been instrumental to our success in the Middle East and Africa,” said Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International and CEO of Minor Hotels. “This promotion recognises his outstanding contribution and our confidence in his ability to drive the next phase of regional growth.”

A Danish national, Amir began his hospitality career in 2007 with Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. He is a graduate of the Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland and is based in Minor Hotels’ Middle East Regional Office in Dubai.