Blue City Company 1 (BCC1) has signed an agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) to develop a five star waterfront hotel at Al Madina A’Zarqa, a key real estate infrastructure project in Oman.

The InterContinental Al Madina A’Zarqa, the coastline hotel consists of 200 elegant rooms, including 50 suites and is in close proximity to the Al Na’man community, the shopping district, golf course and the creek marina.

The beachfront property will be the second hotel scheduled to open in Al Madina A’Zarqa, said BCC1, the developers of phase one of the project.

Commenting on the signing, John Bamsey, chief operating officer, InterContinental Hotels Group, Middle East and Africa said: Oman plans to highlight its natural beauty through premium developments, such as Al Madina A’Zarqa, in an effort to increase its international appeal.

'InterContinental Al Madina A’Zarqa will offer affluent leisure and business travellers a more authentic experience, while delivering on the international standards that they have grown accustomed to,' he explained.

'We look forward to developing our partnership with Blue City Company 1, as we continue our expansion plans in the Sultanate.'

'We currently have six properties in Oman, including our flagship Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat and three hotels in the pipeline, one of these being the InterContinental Al Madina A’Zarqa.'

'Our presence in Oman is a testimony of our confidence in the country’s Vision 2020 and its plans to develop in to a key leisure and business tourism destination,” he added. 

InterContinental Al Madina A’Zarqa will offer several dining options including a fine dining restaurant, an all day restaurant and specialty outlets.

In addition, the property will feature a complete fitness centre offering the latest equipment, a spa, as well as pools and tennis courts. The hotel will also offer state of the art meeting and conference facilities to cater to specific business needs.

“Al Madina A’Zarqa is a rapidly growing coastal city with a prime geographic location, easily accessible from Muscat International Airport and within a three hour drive from the UAE. We are pleased to be partnering with IHG to bring InterContinental to our development, Intercontinental is renowned for their premium standards and quality service,” said Richard P. Russell, PE, managing director & chief executive officer, BCC1.

“InterContinental Al Madina A’Zarqa is one of three waterfront hotels in phase one of the development and will create a strong and dynamic international presence in the tourism sector of the Sultanate,' Roger Kacou, vice president of Hotel and Leisure Development, BCC1.

'Our city will have approximately 20 hotels offering spas, restaurants and other facilities that will put Al Madina A’ Zarqa on par with the global tourism scene,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service