Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas is to extend its portfolio of luxury resorts and spas across Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East to include 50 hotels within the next five years.

A total of seven new resorts in China, the Maldives, Oman and the United Arab Emirates are scheduled to open by the end of 2011.

The new properties will include Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives. Opening in January 2011, it will feature 78 over-water beach suites with private infinity pools and a signature Anantara Spa.

Also featuring the signature spa brand, Anantara Al Madina A'Zarqa Resort in Oman will be set on a natural peninsula in the Gulf of Oman.

The group's first venture into China will be the Anantara Sanya Resort and Spa in south China which will open in April 2011. Located on the Luhuitou Peninsula on Hainan Island, the resort will be flanked by two beaches, Ziaodonghai Bay and Luhuitou Park, and feature a large spa with three double treatment rooms, a suite and wet facilities including a mud room.

In northern Laos, the Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort and Spa will be located in the Hengduan Mountains within the Xishuangbanna in Yunnan province. Set on the banks of the Luosuo River, the resort will feature 103 guestrooms including 23 pool villas.

Elsewhere, Anantara Uluwatu Resort and Spa in Bali will be located on the south-western tip of Bali on a limestone cliff and launch in August 2011. Each of the resort's 77 suites will offer unobstructed views of the ocean while spa facilities include a double Thai treatment room, a mud room, a swimming pool and a yoga pavilion.

Finally, there is the Al Barari by Anantara and The Al Yamm by Anantara, both on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Al Barari by Anantara will be in the west section of the Arabian Wildlife Park. Overlooking salt-dome hilltops, a total of 30 rustic-styled lodges will each have a private plunge pool and boast views of the park's sand gazelles as well as Oryx. Meanwhile, the Al Yamm by Anantara will have sea-facing chalets on the eastern shores of Sir Bani Yas Island.

Further Anantara properties set to open in 2012 include Anantara Mahabalipuram in Chenai, India, and two properties in Morocco, in Marrakech and Mogador. Details: anantara.com