Sharjah’s Mleiha and Chedi Al Bait shine with four World Travel Awards 2026 titles
Desert heritage site claims regional park title for the first time
SHARJAH – Sharjah has secured four titles at the World Travel Awards 2026, with Mleiha National Park and The Chedi Al Bait, earning major recognition across the Middle East and the emirate.
The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) received the honours across national parks, boutique resorts, resorts and hotel suites. The results also extend an established winning record for The Chedi Al Bait and its Chedi Grand Suite.
Mleiha National Park was named Middle East’s Leading National Park 2026, marking its first win in the regional category. The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah secured Middle East’s Leading Boutique Resort 2026 and Sharjah’s Leading Resort 2026, while the property’s Chedi Grand Suite retained the Sharjah’s Leading Hotel Suite title for a seventh consecutive year.
The World Travel Awards, established in 1993, recognise organisations and destinations across the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors through country, regional and global award programmes.
Mleiha National Park
Mleiha National Park’s Middle East title places the Sharjah destination among the region’s leading national parks after it competed against four other shortlisted parks. It was the only UAE destination shortlisted in the category.
The award adds to Mleiha’s previous World Travel Awards recognition. The Mleiha Archaeological & Eco-Tourism Project was named Middle East’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Initiative in both 2019 and 2020.
Located within the core zone of the UNESCO-inscribed Faya Palaeolandscape, Mleiha brings together archaeological heritage, desert landscapes and outdoor experiences. The destination documents more than 210,000 years of human history, with its offering spanning archaeological discovery, conservation, education, stargazing and desert exploration.
Shurooq has developed the destination around its existing natural and archaeological assets, combining access to the landscape with visitor experiences and hospitality facilities. Its location within the Faya Palaeolandscape also places Mleiha within an internationally recognised area of archaeological and heritage significance, reflecting evidence of prolonged human presence and adaptation to an arid environment.
Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, CEO of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), said the awards reflected the diversity of Sharjah’s tourism offering and the approach taken in developing individual destinations.
He said Mleiha’s development focuses on protecting and interpreting its natural and archaeological landscape, while The Chedi Al Bait is centred on preserving the heritage and urban character of historic Sharjah.
Al Qaseer added that the recognition reinforced Shurooq’s commitment to developing destinations capable of competing at a regional level while remaining connected to Sharjah’s identity.
Chedi Al Bait
The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah secured two titles in the 2026 awards, being named Middle East’s Leading Boutique Resort and Sharjah’s Leading Resort.
The 65-key property is located in the historic Heart of Sharjah district and was developed as part of a major heritage preservation project. The hospitality destination was created through the restoration and transformation of five historic houses that once belonged to prominent Emirati families.
The houses, which are more than 100 years old, were carefully restored to retain their original Emirati architecture and cultural character while being adapted for contemporary hospitality.
One of the properties was formerly the home of Ibrahim Bin Mohammed Al Midfa, a prominent figure in Sharjah’s history. His former residence now houses a museum and library documenting the emirate’s history and his contribution to its development.
The new Middle East boutique resort title gives The Chedi Al Bait its latest regional recognition, while its Sharjah’s Leading Resort award extends a strong record at emirate level.
The property previously won Sharjah’s Leading Resort in 2023, 2024 and 2025, making the 2026 recognition its fourth consecutive victory in the category.
Sharjah’s Leading Hotel Suite 2026
The Chedi Grand Suite was named Sharjah’s Leading Hotel Suite 2026, extending its winning streak in the category to seven consecutive years.
The suite has held the title every year since 2020, making the latest award the seventh successive World Travel Awards recognition in the category. It adds another distinction to The Chedi Al Bait’s growing list of honours in the 2026 programme.