New Hotels in Dubai

Hotel Sofitel Dubai Wafi to open in September

ofitel Dubai Wafi will open its doors in September this year.

Located in Dubai’s Oud Metha, the five-star property was initially slated to open in late 2019.

Once open, there will be 498 rooms and 97 serviced apartments. It will have the Sofitel SPA with L’OCCITANE, a comprehensive gymnasium, an outdoor pool, private cabanas and a kids club. Business travellers will have access to 10 meeting rooms in addition to a 1,115 square metre ballroom.

Inside there will be a handful of culinary hotspots. Brassiere Boulud has been designed by famed chef Daniel Boulud, known for his double Michelin-starred restaurant in New York. There will also be Taiko – sister restaurant to the award-winning venue in Amsterdamby Chef Schilo Van Coevorden. The Nine will serve British gastropub classics while Bijou Patisserie will serve baked goods.

The property features a striking exterior – an obelisk shape harking to the hotel’s French and Egyptian inspiration. Sofitel Dubai Wafi will be connected to Wafi Mall and sit next door to Raffles Dubai. The properties will share some facilities on a cluster level.

A look at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert

We are very proud to share that on 11th November 2017, the first The Ritz-Carlton flag in Ras Al Khaimah was raised following our extensive re-positioning of this special oasis in the desert. I have attached our press release for this occasion for you to share our news on any marketing channels, social media and internally.

We have previously communicated enhancements including most recently the completion of all of our villas and the opening of Farmhouse in October as well as the introduction of Al Wadi Experience Concierge, integration of the Al Wadi Equestrian Center and Spa partnership with ESPA from earlier in the year. There have been so many touch points that have been enhanced during our transition, however now that we are fully-flagged as The Ritz-Carlton, I would like to share some further product updates relating to the villas repositioning and our many dining options now available to our guests.

Villas

NEW – We are delighted that all of our 101 Villas have been enhanced and are delighted to share some of these images with you. Our new images will be regularly added to our image library on Al Wadi Desert and we will continue to share the updated images. Please remove any images from your site that are not loaded on this link.
As well as newly designed and enhanced villas, we have re-positioned our Tented villas to be sold with the following key benefits:
•Full Board only – all bookings made on contracted rates include breakfast, lunch and dinner (more details below)
•Kids Stay free – up to 2 children can stay free including Full Board for children (as per contract)
•Al Wadi Experiences Included – a choice of daily experiences (1 per person) included as well as the daily Falcon Show and Owl Interaction for all guests in the resort.

Restaurants & Dining at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert:

NEW – Kaheela
Kaheela is our new restaurant which is open for breakfast lunch and dinner. This restaurant have a fresh new modern look with Arabic touches that complement the menu. Stunning Arabic and international dishes can be enjoyed overlooking the organic herb garden or on the shaded terrace with a view of our water feature. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

NEW – Farmhouse
Inspired by a traditional rustic farm house, the restaurant offers fresh food produced from the land, air and sea with premium selections of wild meats smoked for 18 hours in our own smoker as well as our homegrown vegetables. Enjoy a sunset shisha or after-dinner drink at the outdoor deck. Open for dinner.

NEW – The Lobby Lounge
As a Ritz-Carlton, we have completely re-designed our lobby offering a fresh and relaxing environment with the center piece being our 300 year old Olive Tree. Guests can now enjoy drinks and light fare as well as The Ritz-Carlton Afternoon Tea and signature cake. Afternoon tea in the lobby lounge is also included for guests staying on Full Board in one of our Tented Villas.
Please note the inclusion of The Lobby Lounge replaces the Stables Café which is due to open later in 2018.

Samar Lounge
Samar Lounge features cozy nooks, mood lighting and offers a selection of tapas dishes with a selection of international wines and signature cocktails. Open for dinner, evening drinks and shisha on the terrace. Samar Lounge will be re-positioned with new menu as Moorish in 2018 and we will keep you updated on the progress.

NEW – Khan-Zaman
Join our Al Wadi BBQ, every Friday at Khan-Zaman, in an outdoor relaxing Arabic seating, overlooking the desert landscape. Enjoy live BBQ grill stations, a selection of mezze, salads and desserts complimented by live entertainment. Open Friday evenings.

Al Wadi Tower
Constructed in the style of a traditional Arabian watchtower, The Tower offers private dining looking out over the desert. A dedicated chef prepares a spread of specialties. Perfect for exclusive or romantic meals.
Can only be booked privately for lunch or dinner.

Dining on the Dunes
We offer various ‘destination dining ‘ experiences on the suns from Western-style and Arabic BBQ, in-villa BBQ and picnic’s in the desert dunes.
Not included in meal plans.

Moon Bar and the NEW Farmhouse Bar & Terrace
The Moon bar was closed throughout the summer which is normal as an outdoor only rooftop bar. The bar will remain closed until the enhancement is complete which is planned for 2018. Until then, we have a new bar at Farmhouse as well as an outdoor bar and terrace with stunning sunset overlooking the watering hole and sand dunes.

As a reminder, all Al Rimal Villas are sold on B&B basis with options to upgrade to Half Board and Full Board. Where this is added, guests are able to dine-around as per contract.
All bookings in Tented Villas include Full Board, which is also dine-around and includes experiences. Children stay free on full board in Tented Villas and can dine from the children’s menu.

The Lion roared at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert was officially flagged on 11th November 2017 in presence of esteemed dignitaries and hospitality leaders. With the newest addition, The Ritz-Carlton brand expands its portfolio of distinctive luxury destinations across the UAE to four properties.

Le Meridien Al Aqah to highlight its extensive environmental initiatives at ATM 2009

Fujairah, April 16th, 2009 Le Meridien Al Aqah will highlight its extensive environmental initiatives at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2009, as it continues to capture the lucrative East Coast tourism share.

Following on from the resort’s programme of planting 100 new coconut palms along its shoreline in 2008, this year will see activities implemented by resort staff and the local community, including recycling awareness with local schools in May, a clean-up of Khor Fakkan Beach in June, an environmental symposium at the resort’s conference centre in July, tree planting on the grounds of the resort in August, and an awareness programme about Red Tide, focusing on the need to protect coral reefs, in September.

“During these difficult economic times, we believe it is important to invest in the community and to focus on how we can continue to improve the resort’s operations, particularly from an environmental perspective,” said Patrick Antaki, General Manager, Le Meridien Al Aqah.

In addition to beautifying the resort, the environmental awareness drive will see cost savings in energy. To date, the resort has cut utilities consumption by 1,793,499 KW (electricity), 6,137,000 gallons (water) and 85,154 litres (gas).

“The effect is far-reaching, in terms of reducing the resort’s carbon footprint and also reducing the energy bill. We are redirecting these funds to improve key areas of the resort, such as the children’s facility, the Penguin Club,” added Antaki.

Reducing the waste sent to landfill is also high on the environmental agenda, with the resort continuing its recycling target of about 7000kg per month, mainly of high-use items such as glass, plastic, oils and newspapers.

After the $2 million upgrade of the beachfront in 2008, the resort will keep the garden area greener by installing solar panels for the garden lights and parking.

دبي القابضة تدمج العمليات المساندة لشركاتها العقارية

دبي فى 15 فبراير/وام/أعلنت دبي القابضة عن دمج كافة العمليات المساندة لشركات التطوير العقاري الثلاث المنضوية تحت مظلتها

وقالت الشركة في بيان لها اليوم إنه سيتم دمج العمليات المساندة لمجموعة دبي للعقارات وسما دبي وشركة مزن العضو في تطوير وإسناد هذه العمليات إلى جهة تنفيذية واحدة مؤكدة في نفس الوقت أنه لن يطرأ أية تغييرات على ملكية هذه الشركات الثلاث أو أنشطتها الرئيسية.

وأكد البيان أن هذه الخطوة لن يكون لها أي تأثير على العلاقات القانونية التي تربط هذه الشركات مع كافة أطراف السوق وشركائها سواء من المستثمرين أو المقاولين أو الاستشاريين حيث إن الغرض منها تعزيز مستوى الكفاءة والفاعلية للعمليات المساندة.

Premier Inn Middle East Slashes 30% rates for its budget hotels

Premier Inn Middle East, a joint venture of Emirates and UK-based holding company Whitbread, has reduced the daily room rates to AED350 (US $95.3) from AED495 ($134.8) until the end of September, in response to a slow tourism in the emirate specially after DSF.

The company has sites under construction at Dubai International Airport and Dubai Silicon Oasis, where the second Dubai property will open in early May this year and where the rate will also be AED350. Construction will start on two sites in Abu Dhabi shortly, the company said.

Premier Inn is one of the UK’s biggest hotel brand with over 580 hotels and almost 40,000 rooms across the UK and in Ireland. It is owned by hotel and restaurant company Whitbread, which also owns Starbucks coffee rival Costa Coffee.

Dubai Hotel Reservations Dubai Desert Safari

Hospitality Sector will grow 20%

Job opportunities in the GCC’s hospitality sector is predicted to grow at a rate of 20% over the next four years time, according to new Dubai-based hospitality networking and human resources portal Hozpitality.com .

There are about 240 projects expected to become operational between 2008-2011 in the GCC, an estimate that 90,000 additional staff will be needed to cater for more than 69,000 rooms.

The UAE leads these developments with 133 new hotels to come to add about 42,400 more rooms leading to need of 56,000, people this was stated by Raj Bhatt, director of Hozpitality.com.

“The financial crisis may have its impact, but we do believe that what is happening in the regional hospitality industry right now is an unprecedented opportunity and Hozpitality.com stand to gain from it,” added Bhatt.

In GCC, Saudi Arabia has the second largest number of new hotel developments having 45 projects to come up with a need for 13,300 new hands, while Oman and Qatar with 23 and 21 new projects would need 7,345 and 8,100 staff respectively during 2008-2011.

Bahrain would need some 4,517 new recruits with 12 new developments expected to come on stream and Kuwait 1,700 staff with six projects.

Jamal Panhwar
Exotic Dubai Tours

Look inside world’s tallest hotel in Dubai

The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai hotel has nabbed the Guinness World Record for the tallest hotel in the world after opening this week. Take a look at what’s on offer

Soaring at 355 metres, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is just 26 metres shorter than New York City’s famed Empire State Building

The hotel is spread over 77-floor twin towers, each with 804 rooms and 14 restaurants, bars and lounges

The lobby design seems to be straight-line and minimalist

It claims to be Dubai’s first world-class convention and business destination hotel, filling a long identified gap in the market. Pictured is the executive lounge

The hotel has a 30-metre pool on the seventh floor

Each tower has two presidential suites – fit for the super wealthy!

The lounge of a presidential suite – where do we sign up?

The standard room also has a beautiful view ofDubai

Standar room at JW Marriott Marqui

Dubai hotels recorded 715,000 guests from UK in 2009

Dubai,29th Nov 2010 — After its successful participation at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London earlier this month, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has highlighted the steadily growing relations between the United Kingdom and Dubai over the last few years.

Eyad Abdul Rahman, DTCM’s Executive Director of Media Relation Division and Business Development, noted that in 2009 Dubai’s hotels recorded a total of 715,000 guests from the UK, and in the first half of this year this figure reached 382,000. Further, the number of tour operators promoting Dubai in the UK witnessed a 5 per cent increase last year.

Abdul Rahman added that the DTCM pavilion at WTM in London generated major response from visitors, especially from UK-based travel agencies. He noted that nearly half of the participating travel agencies attended the special dinner hosted by DTCM which served as an excellent networking platform.

Abdul Rahman also referred to the statement by the UAE Ambassador to London who described the recent visit of the British queen as historical and said that the visit comes at a time when UAE-UK relations have become closer than ever at various levels.

Dubai Economic Forum to open in Seoul on Monday

SEOUL, June 19, 2010- A high-powered Dubai economic mission led by Ahmad Dhaen Al Qamzi, Director General of the Department of Finance – Government of Dubai, arrives in Seoul on Sunday to participate in the Dubai Economic Forum scheduled for June 21,2010 at InterContinental Hotel in downtown Seoul.

Members of the delegation include Fahad Al Gergawi (CEO, the Foreign Investment Office), Abdul Baset Al Janahi (CEO, Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development), Mohammed Shael Al Saadi (CEO, Business Registration Division),Saed Mohamed Al Awadi (CEO, Dubai Export Development Corporation) and Laila Suhail (CEO, Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment, Moon-ryeon Choi, a spokesman for Index Holding Korea said.

More than 70 Korean businessmen from 48 local business associations and companies reflecting a wide spectrum of Korean industries will join the forum to get the latest information about investment climate in Dubai as well as Dubai’s new policy guidelines for Korean companies.

Among 48 Korean companies to join the forum Hyundai Development, Halla Construction, GX Caltex, LIG Insurance, SK C’&’C, Samsung Heavy Industries, Hyundai Elevator and Samsung Medical Center.

After the morning sessions during which Ahmad Dhaen Al Qamzi to make a key note speech on Dubai’s new policies for foreign investors, face to face business consultations between Dubai delegates and Korean participants are scheduled for afternoon session.

The forum is organized by Index Holding Korea office chaired by Abdul Salam Al Madani.

Index Holding Korea established its operation within Gangnam District in Seoul in 2006 has since played a pivotal role in arranging business opportunities to business interests in both countries during these years. The latest of such business relationship successfully arranged by Index Holding was the agreement between Samsung Medical Center and INDEX Holding to establish the first Samsung INDEX Medical Center in Dubai.

Rotana to complete World’s tallest hotel in Dubai

Rotana has revealed that it has entered into the final stages prior to the opening of one of Dubai’s forthcoming landmarks, Rose Rayhaan by Rotana in mid December.

Commenting on the announcement, senior vice president – UAE, Rotana, Omer Kaddouri said: “We are very proud to be managing this landmark property. The Rose Rayhaan by Rotana team has been working hand in hand with Rotana corporate office to ensure all areas of the opening are perfected for the operation of this scenic property.”

At 72 floors and 333m high, Rose Rayhaan by Rotana is set to be the world’s tallest hotel and a dramatic addition to Sheikh Zayed Road. Located in the heart of Dubai, some five minutes away from Dubai Mall and 10 minutes from Dubai International Airport, the 481-room, -suite and -penthouse hotel offers a number of food and beverage venues, eight meeting rooms, a fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool, and sauna and steam rooms.

General manager, Rose Rayhaan by Rotana, Daniel Mathew expressed: “Rose Rayhaan by Rotana is the second property to open under Rotana’s brand Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana, which is uniquely designed to cater to the diverse needs of our guests.

“This alcohol-free option reflects our respect for the culture and beliefs of our guests and our dedication to fostering a new Arabia in today’s world.”