Dubai Real Estate News
UAE Property Market Trends and Reviews

Labels: Commercial Property, New Hotels, Sharjah

The Al Osaimi Group has confirmed that the construction work of the $272million (Dh.1 billion) luxury resort at The Palm Jumeirah, is progressing as scheduled, and will be ready by first quarter of 2008.

The Kuwait-based developer has taken the help of several firms for project consultancy, contracting and enabling works and project management, as this is their maiden project in the UAE. The project is located on the Crescent of The Palm Jumeirah.


During the first quarter of 2008, the developer will launch one million square foot project, in accordance with the agreement signed with Dusit International, one of the prestigious Thai hotel chains in the world.

At present, Al Osaimi is carrying on with the final stages of escrow registration process in compliance with regulations laid out by the Dubai Land Department, thereby preparing to launch early next year.

The project that spreads over an area of 95,000 square meters on The Palm Jumeirah, comprises a seven star luxury hotel, a five star family resort, and an upscale residential complex that includes 178 posh freehold townhouses, penthouses and a dozen chalets.

Being designed in traditional Indian manner, the hotel has 116 guestrooms and suites, while the Moroccan-themed family resort has 292 rooms and suites. The hotels offer excellent dining, themed landscaping, ballroom, and state-of-the-art amenities. The luxurious development will also include renowned Deverana Spa by Dusit, an authentic Thai-inspired rejuvenation, apart from internationally acclaimed service of Dusit International, incorporating Thai culture and hospitality.

Right from its inception 25 years ago, the Al Osami Group, has handled several projects in Kuwait, and in the Middle East, including commercial, residential, hospitality and retail developments. The company has a rich portfolio that covers various sectors including, construction, real estate investment, engineering, while the subsidiary firm of the group has spearheaded for 15 projects including the group's development on The Palm Jumeirah.

Labels: Luxury Homes, New Hotels, Palm Jumeirah, Resorts

A leading Indian construction conglomerate, NCC Urban Infrastructure Limited, a subsidiary of NCCL (Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited), has launched a Dh.1.5bn freehold mixed-use development at DuBio-ech (Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park).

The twin tower project, NCC Harmony, covering 2.3million square feet of built-up area at the DuBiotech free-zone is the first project by the company in Dubai. The development is located in the heart of New Dubai, adjacent to Dubailand, Arabian Ranches and major shopping centers.

NCC Harmony comprises two 32 storey towers with one residential and one hotel apartment, comprising single and double bedrooms, and studios.

NCC Harmony is supported by NCCL, an ISO 9001-14001-18001 certified Group, rated as 'Best Under Billion' by Forbes Asia, in Asia Pacific during 2005. The Group has an annual turnover of Dh.3billion, and is the largest construction groups in India.


The construction works of NCC Harmony has been handed over to Dutch Foundation and Concrete Processing Co. LLC with the excavation, piling and shoring works already commenced.

The development is slated for completion by May 2010.

Labels: Apartments, DuBiotech, New Developments, New Hotels, New-Dubai, Residential

Danat Hotels and Resort has revealed its plans to undertake a major property development on a premium coastal plot at Abu Dhabi. The Residential-cum-business micro-city, worth Dh.8 billion, is currently being constructed around the new Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (Adnec).

The announcement which came during the signing ceremony held at Adnec, included Shaikh sultan Bin Tahnoon al Nahyan, the Adnec Chairman, Abdullah Khalfan Al Romaithi, Manging Director of the National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels, and more such prominent government officials and Adnec executives.

The Danat project will be located on an area of 10,360 square meters, at the Al Khaleej Al Arabi Coastal road, across from the Waterfront Marina Zone, with a built up area of nearly 60,000 square meters. On completion of the Danat project, it will join Abu Dhabi's impressive line-up of hotels, commercial and residential towers, marina, retail zone and other mixed-use developments that enhance the local landscape.

"This development will add value to the meetings, conventions, incentives and events industry's development in Abu Dhabi. Danat Hotels and Resort is a company with strong national identity with UAE nationals as our shareholders. It is dedicated to the development of UAE, and Abu Dhabi, in particular. We are confident that our plans for this prime location will exceed expectations," said Abdulla Khalfan.

Labels: Abu Dhabi, Al Raha Beach, New Hotels, Water front

The Oberoi Group of India, which manages and owns 32 hotels and luxury cruises across five countries, has revealed its foray into a strategic relationship with Aldar Properties, to develop two luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi.

The two hotel properties are being planned at the Al Raha beach and the Al Yas beach in Abu Dhabi, and will be entirely funded by Aldar, the largest real estate company in Abu Dhabi by market capitalization.

Aldar will be the sole owner of the two properties. The estimate of the two hotel properties are yet to be revealed by Aldar.

The hotels will be under the management of Oberoi Group under a long-term contract for a minimum of 20 years. The properties will be referred to as "The Oberoi – Al Raha Beach" and "The Oberoi – Al Yas".

The Oberoi-Al Raha beach property is expected to consist of 250 rooms and 50 serviced apartments and The Oberoi-Al Yas will have 120 villas. The properties will cater to top, luxury-end of the market. The Al Raha property is scheduled to be opened by 2010, while the Al Yas will be opened by 2013.

Labels: Abu Dhabi, Aldar, Luxury Homes, New Hotels

Labels: Apartments, Downtown, Emmar, Luxury Homes, New Developments, New Hotels, Residential

The Armani Hotels and Resorts and Armani Residences, are a joint venture between Giorgio Armani, an Italian fashion designer and Emaar Properties. It is scheduled to launch its first property in Burj Dubai during 2009.


During the time of entering into the venture in 2005, Emaar had agreed for an investment of $1billion for development of ten Armani luxury hotels and resorts in major global cities. Under the terms of the agreement, Giorgio Armani S.p.A. is awarding a long term license to Emaar Hotel & Resorts LLC for the operation of a collection of luxury hotels and resorts, whereby Emaar will be fully responsible for real estate, construction, management and operations, with Giorgio Armani overseeing all aspects of content, design and style, including interiors and amenities, incorporating the various Armani fashion, beauty collections and furnishings.

The next Armani hotel has been planned in Milan, which will be followed by Marrakesh and New York.

Mohammad Al Abbar, the Emaar Chairman, said The Emaar Hotels and Resorts are in the process of undertaking several prestigious developments across the region to take advantage of the booming tourism sector.

The company has announced that Dardenne, who is currently the CEO of Emaar Hospitality Group, will guide the development of luxury projects in major cities and other emerging markets.

Labels: Burj Dubai, Emmar, New Hotels

Iberotel Hotels and Resorts, a company that manages high-end resort and hotels in Italy and Egypt, has now been designated to manage a three-phase project, worth Dh.800 million in UAE by a German travel company named Tui, and Dubai based company called Travco Emirates.

The General Manager of Iberotel, Ashraf Helmy, said that the overall project in Fujairah, will be completed by 2009, and will comprise of two resort hotels, a dining and shopping area, so as to make it a self-contained community, but will not house residential complexes.

The first phase of the project, is the Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort, a five star hotel development with spa, aqua center, wellness facilities, and watersports such as windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving and para-sailing.

The Al Aqah Beach Resort is a five star development worth Dh.250 million. It will include 300 rooms, 18 suites, out of which two have private swimming pools. The construction of hotel, which began last year, will be open from next month.

The project has been designed by Rami Eidhahan, the famous Egyptian architectural house, and is rooted in Arabic culture and heritage.

Helmy mentioned that the Travco project is going on inline with Fujairah's efforts to develop its resort sector into well-known hospitality industry. Apart from beautiful beaches in Fujairah, the local government is banking on its archaeological sites and mountain chains to attract several multi-billion property investments.

Labels: Fujairah, New Developments, New Hotels, Resorts

Labels: Fujairah, Investment Property, New Hotels, Resorts

Landmark Real Estate Investment Management (LRIM) plans to invest Dh.100 million in a three star hotel in the Dubai Industrial Park (DIP).

LRIM, is a fund manager based in Dubai, and is making investment through its Landmark Real Estate Opportunity Fund launched during September 2005.

The fund has been invested in nearly ten real estate projects throughout UAE. According to Landmark's COO, Riyaz Jivanjee, this is the first hotel project in their portfolio.

The property will be managed by Copthorne Hotels and Millennium hotels under the brand Kingsgate Hotel and Resorts.

The property is expected to comprise 200 hotel rooms and forty suites. The preliminary design works has been agreed, and the hotel is expected to open during second quarter of 2009.

The Chief Executive Officer of LRIM, Chris Purdon, said "The project has been designed to meet the needs of leisure and business travelers and capture an investment opportunity due to the difference in demand and supply for mid-scale accommodation of business visitors to Dubai."

Labels: Dubai Industrial City, Investment Property, New Hotels, Real Estate Projects

Aldar Properties, the leading Abu Dhabi developer, has awarded the construction contract of its Al Gurm Resort Residential villas to Six Construct.

The construction will include the supervision of the infrastructure development, and its related service. The luxury villas will be developed in different phases and is scheduled for completion by May 2009.

The Al Gurm Resort will be located in the tropical mangrove forests of Abu Dhabi, on the edge of waters with lagoons and indigenous wildlife, with about sixty species of birds. The resort will consist of seventy three luxury homes, and about 158 five-star suites and will be managed by the Banyan Tree Hotel Resorts.

The Aldar Chariman, Ahmad Al Sayegh, said "Aldar is proud of the Al Gurm Resort project. Apart from being an icon for Abu Dhabi, the stunning residential development will significantly add to the already expanding tourism sector of the emirate, through the world-class hotel that is likely to be established."

Labels: New Contracts, New Hotels, Resorts

A 370 room budget hotel, worth Dh.140million will be built in Dubai, by the Sharjah-based Al Qasimi Group, announced the company's Chairman.

"Budget hotels are increasing in popularity these days. Dubai is facing shortage of hotel rooms to meet the growing tourist demand, which has resulted in increased hotel fares. Hence, there is need for budget hotels to meet the increasing demand, while also serving those on the look out for a bargain," said Faisal bin Khalid Al Qasimi, of the Al Qasimi group.

The group already has a three-star hotel "Princess Ramee' in Dubai. The construction of the budget hotel, will be close to Mall of Emirates, and will begin in August and will be completed by 2009.

According to the company, the room rates of the budget hotel will be less than Dh.367, though the exact rate is yet to be decided on, as the construction of the hotel will take another two years to be complete.

Shaikh Fasal mentioned that they have branches in Sharjah, Oman and Abu Dhabi, apart from Dubai, and are looking to expand into Qatar and Bahrain too.

Labels: New Hotels, Real Estate Company

Emirates Group and Premier Inn, the biggest brand in UK, is expected to include 5000 additional hotel rooms in the Gulf region.

A statement from the Senior Vice-President, Business Development, Derek Swan, said "We are on-track with our plan to include 830 new additional rooms in the market within the next eighteen months, and will launch about 5000 rooms across the GCC in the next five years to come."

"The demand from visitors seeking quality budget hotel accommodation in the UAE is ever increasing with the major tourism developments and booming economy," he added.
Premier Inn has secured a prime location to build hotel, at Abu Dhabi's micro city, comprising residential and commercial towers, retail zones and hotels.

Premier Inn plans to construct the 250 room hotel at a plot situated opposite to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, taking advantage of the proximity and accessibility of the location to the site where quite a few major events are held. Premier Inn, in the GCC, is a joint venture between Whitbread, the leading hospitality group in UK and the Emirates Group.

PTI Gulf Hotels, the joint venture recently broke ground on its hotel property outside UK at the Dubai Investments Park, and secured about Dh.200 million for financing its first three developments in Dubai.

Labels: Latest News, New Hotels

Oberoi, the leading luxury hotel developer of India, plans to operate two hotels, one each in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, representing the entry of the group into the fast emerging regional tourism destination.

At Abu Dhabi, Oberoi plans to manage a resort property and a city hotel, though the developers are yet to be known. An agreement has already been signed for construction of a hotel in Dubai, which is a part of the Dh.800 million property project being developed by Rani International at the Business Bay.

The Chairman of the Group, P.R.S. Oberoi, mentioned that the company’s development plan is focused on Asia and Middle East.

Oberoi Group has thirty two hotels in five countries already, and is planning to launch new properties at Muscat, Maldives, Marrakesh, Cambodia, Thailand and Sharm Al Shaikh. It also has about a dozen hotels under development.

Oberoi said "It is very difficult to make a target. You have to have the right partner, the right location, and the right market. We are only going to build luxury hotels, and not big ones."

Oberoi insists on checking out the 'reputation' of potential investors before signing a contract, rather than the amount of money the investor has.

Labels: Abu Dhabi, New Hotels, Resorts

It has been planned to launch a new hospitality firm worth Dh.1.83 billion for constructing ten hotels in Dubai by 2015.

"United Hotels", which is based in Dubai, has been formed by fifteen Gulf investors with an initial fund of Dh.367 million, keeping in mind, the promising scenario of the hospitality sector in the UAE. While four of the investors are based in UAE, the other four are from Kuwait, two from Omanis, three from Qataris, one from Bahrain and one from Saudi.

Jasim Al Bastaki, the CEO of United Hotels has mentioned that within a span of two years, the company plans to raise $500 million for investment in seven to ten hotels in the GCC by 2015.

The company plans to manage the hotels under the brand name 'Moon Hotels'. The first four-star Moon Hotel is planned to open at Dubai in 2010.

According to Al Bastaki, the Moon brand will be developed into various categories so as to operate leisure and business hotels. Towards end of this year, United plans to hire thirty five people to work on further development plans for forming new chain of hotels.

Al Basakti added that the 'United chain of hotels' will be unique in its architectural value, which will demonstrate the spirit of Arabian hospitality with a global touch.

Labels: New Hotels, Real Estate Projects

DSI (Drake and Skull International), the leading player in the electro-mechanical engineering field in the region, has won the contract worth Dh.178 million for carrying out the entire electrical, mechanical and plumbing works for the Park Rotana, a mixed use development being built at Khalifa Park in Abu Dhabi. DSI has been allocated to provide the mechanical, electrical and plumbing works over an area of 180,000 Sq.Mts., which also includes rental apartments.

The project, which is being developed by Al Mada Tourism Investment Company LLC, is basically a joint venture promoted by Rotana Hotels, Resorts and Suites and the ADTA (Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority).

The complex comprises of 300 hotel apartments, 250 hotel rooms, residential apartments and office space, and the hotel will consist of conference rooms, restaurants and fitness and entertainment facilities.

Drake & Skull International's Area Manager, Ahmad Al Naser, mentioned that being the premier MEP contractor of the region, DSI is all set to harness the industrial expertise of their skilled personnel coupled with the cutting edge technology, to offer the best in quality and comfort to the buyers in the development.

Labels: Abu Dhabi, New Hotels

Rosewood Hotels, the luxury hotel chain, is making its entry into the UAE hospitality sector with a hotel in the Dubai International financial Center, which will be ready by the end of 2009.

Rosewood Dubai, formed under partnership with JMJ Hospitality and Daman Investments, will comprise 200 rooms, apart from 55 managed residential properties, which are likely to be open for sale by end of the year. Both Daman and JMJ are the investors in the hotel, which will be managed by Rosewood. JMJ, being a US-based developer, this is also the first project launched by a US-based developer in Dubai.

The Rosewood CEO and President, Scott III, mentioned that this site was found to be the most attractive due to its location within the financial center, as with the mounting Dubai traffic, executives would rather prefer to stay away from the beach for their business projects.

The Managing Director and President of JMJ, Chris Knable mentioned that this project is the beginning of marking their presence in the region, and that they plan to expand further to other regions too.

Labels: New Hotels, Residential

Dusit International, the operational branch of Dusit hotel service business is making a strong presence in the Middle East by constructing two additional hotels and a residential unit through Dusit Palm Island Project, at Dubai.

The Dusit International Chairman and Managing Director, Chanin Donavanik, states that with the new project in hand, there will be three Dusit hotels in Dubai, the leading destination for business travelers and tourists.

According to Donavanik, in addition to the current Dusit Dubai Hotel with 300 rooms, the latest project agreements will help Dusit gain a stronger hold in the Middle East. He said that the new project comprises two luxury six star hotels ‘Dusit Devarana’ and ‘Dusit Thani’ and of-course the fashionable Dusit Residence, the launch of which, will be announced separately.

The luxury hotel ‘Dusit Devarana’ catches inspiration from Indian architecture and comprises of 114 big suites and rooms, while ‘Dusit Thani’ is a property that is inspired by Moroccan architecture comprising 272 suites and rooms.

Labels: Dusit Dubai, New Hotels

The Owner of Orient Tours, Shaikh Faisal Bin Khalid Al Qasimi of Sharjah, has declared that he plans to build 380 rooms budget hotel near the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.

The property, worth Dh.150million, is one among the several other budget hotels planned by Al Qasimi Group in the GCC. Shaikh Faisal mentioned that they are entering into the business of budget hotels with the government’s approval and he expects the hotel to be ready towards end of 2008, though the operator is yet to be finalized.

Faisal mentioned that there is a great demand for budget hotels in the emirate, and with steady growth in inbound tourism, the tour operators are facing shortage of hotel rooms. This shortage of rooms exists in all categories like beach resorts, budget hotels and city hotels. On the other hand, UAE is witnessing tremendous growth in leisure, business and tourism and hence the budget hotels are a must to keep up with the pace of growth.

Labels: New Hotels

The Arabian Travel Market 2007 witnessed the launch of ‘Planet Group’, a conglomerate of eleven reputed companies from the travel and hospitality sector.

The Chairman of the Group, George M Moussa, mentioned that the success of tourism in Dubai is based on the fact that it is a unique, plentiful and quality destination with dedicated professionals in the tourism sector coupled with the strong marketing efforts from the Dubai Government. The aim of the group is to assist the tourism industry in the city and add its share of social and economic contribution.

The Group intends to build a five star restaurant, a convention centre complex and an apartment with a total cost of Dh600 million at Danat in Abu Dhabi. The hotel with 440 rooms and 190-unit apartment complex is expected to be completed by mid-2009.

The eleven companies in the group will be managing various sectors such as travel, hospitality, freight, cargo, hotel, real estate, aviation, logistics, entertainment, exhibitions and food and beverage.

The Group already operates and manages the Orient Guest House, Arabian Courtyard Hotel and Spa, Show Biz Pizza Place and Galaxy Plaza Hotel. Planet Group also has a real estate branch, Dynamic Real Estate, whose first project in Ajman is already in the process of development, and further aims large scale project developments.

According to reports, the inbound division of the group has already drawn 1,27,000 tourists last year.

Labels: New Hotels