Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will manage a new resort and branded residences in Muscat, the capital of Oman, which is expected to open in 2021.

Mandarin Oriental, Muscat will feature 150 guestrooms and suites, five restaurants and bars, a Spa at Mandarin Oriental and an outdoor swimming pool.

The spa will include eight treatment rooms: three single men’s, three single women’s, one couples room, and one signature Persian Hammam Suite.

A hammam purification ritual will be offered to all guests in the heat and water facilities and will include heat, steam, a complimentary body scrub by a spa therapist, a vitality pool and a cold deluge shower.

The resort will also feature an outdoor Oriental meditation garden for relaxing before and after spa experiences, which will also include a small labyrinth for walking meditation.

The Persian hammam suite will be used for private hammam rituals and couples’ experiences, along with the adjacent couples’ treatment room. A variety of spa experiences will be offered in the Persian hammam suite, including social hammam activities, rasul clay treatments, and steam treatments personalised with bespoke scents from the fragrances of the region, Jeremy McCarthy, Mandarin’s group director of spa and wellness, tells Spa Opportunities.

A Spa Studio with modern, advanced skincare and beauty treatments is also planned.

The spa menu will include Essence of Oman treatments, which combine hammam rituals with local ingredients, including a line of treatments using rose essences.

Traditional Oriental healing arts, which encompass Mandarin's signature treatments derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine will also be offered, as well as therapeutic massage services in conjunction with the state-of-the-art fitness and wellness centre.

Mandarin will also manage 155 Residences at Mandarin Oriental, which will feature select private apartments ranging from 75 to 260 square metres.

The property, developed by Eagle Hills Muscat, will be located on the beach in a prime city location and the low-rise architectural design will take full advantage of the views over the Arabian sea.

“Muscat is an entrancing destination with character, charm and an abundance of visitor attractions,” said James Riley, group chief executive of Mandarin Oriental.