Mandarin Oriental to open beachside retreat on Malaysia's Desaru Coast

Mandarin Oriental is to open a beachside retreat on Malaysia's Desaru Coast

Mandarin Oriental is opening a property on Malaysia’s up-and-coming holiday destination of Desaru Coast. 

The hotel group has been appointed the new operator of what was One&Only Desaru Coast. The new property will be known as Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast.

The hotel is located on a 128-acre site that tracks more than 15 kms of coastline and currently includes suites and villas with plunge pools and private gardens. There are five dining spots, a beach club and a spa. 

The rebranded Spa at Mandarin Oriental will include a wellness sanctuary with a yoga pavilion, fitness centre, beauty salon and sporting facilities including tennis and padel courts. The redesigned Kids’ Club will feature indoor facilities and a large outdoor playground and nature pond.

Over the long-term, Mandarin Oriental plans to include an additional 40 branded residences in a private, residential setting.

Further facilities include the nearby Els Club Desaru Coast golf course which features championship 18- and 27-hole courses designed by golfing greats Ernie Els and Vijay Singh.

Malaysia tourism and resort management group, Destination Resorts & Hotels, aims to grow Desaru Coast to double the destination’s current key count to more than 1,600 rooms by 2027. The area already offers four hotels, a conference centre, ferry terminal, waterpark and golf course. Upcoming projects include the opening of Dash Resort Desaru Coast and an Ormond-branded hotel, both of which are pending approval.

Desaru Coast is also a designated flagship area of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone with around RM5 million allocated to infrastructure projects which include widening the North-South Highway improvements to the Senai-Desaru Expressway and the expected launch of a Rapid Transit System in early 2027.

“This is a bold cultural handshake between two brands,” said DRH group chief executive officer Karina Ridzuan. “One an established global icon, the other an emerging destination, both centred on delivering exceptional guest experiences. We’re confident this partnership will firmly place Desaru Coast as a destination for luxury travel.”

Desaru Coast covers 4,000 acres by the South China Sea in Johor. Existing hotels include Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort and Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast. Attractions include Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast and the Els Club. Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal provides a regular, direct ferry service with Singapore. 

Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast will open in early 2026 - we will, of course, bring you all the details as we receive them.

We spent a lazy weekend at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas - here's what we thought