Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of its third hotel in the UAE, Ibn Battuta Gate, in Dubai, thus raising its portfolio to 67 properties globally.

The new five-star Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel offers guests a privileged location in which to enjoy Dubai's world-class entertainment and shopping, said the upscale hotel management company in a statement.

The property is situated next to the landmark Ibn Battuta Mall, in the heart of New Dubai, close to the Metro and not far from Palm Jumeirah and Jebel Ali Free Zone, while the city's main financial hubs and Dubai Airport are easily accessible via the adjacent Sheikh Zayed Road highway, it added.

The hotel is cleverly inspired by the journeys of the 14th century celebrated Arabian explorer, Ibn Battuta and his travelog is elegantly reflected in every aspect of the property including its eclectic architecture, decor and cuisine, remarked the hotel's general manager, Jan Kaiser.

'All 396 guestrooms and suites enjoy contemporary furnishings, together with touches that hark back to the hotel's Arabian heritage and culture.'

'The landmark hotel features 29 individually decorated suites, which have been themed to reflect the travels of Ibn Battuta, and guests booking into these rooms have complimentary access to the executive lounge,' he added.

Three floors, Kaiser said, were dedicated to business travellers, with a separate reception and lounge areas, but the hotel was just as ideal for families, with convenient three-way interconnecting rooms available.

'The hotel has many iconic elements,' explained Kaiser. 'It is adjacent to the statuesque Ibn Battuta Gate, which, at 60 metres high, is larger than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris,' he noted.

The hotel lobby spans 90x30 metres in length and height, providing a sense of grandeur for departing and arriving guests.

'We call the hotel lobby the Grand Hall. It is majestic yet inviting and has numerous signature features, including 88 mammoth, eastern-style lanterns dangling elegantly into the wonderful space that is best described as 'the hub on the house',' Kaiser added.

The Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel is one of four existing projects from Moevenpick and the Dubai-based real estate developer, Seven Tides.

The forthcoming launches include the 216-room Moevenpick Hotel Deira, as well as the 324-room Oceana Hotel & Spa at the Oceana Beach Club, and 293-room Royal Amwaj Resort & Spa - both on The Palm Jumeirah, said the statement from Moevenpick.-TradeArabia News Service