Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) today announced that Anantara will operate the prestigious Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa in the UAE capital.

The hotel forms part of the Eastern Mangroves development, which will be an integrated hotel, marina, retail and residential destination.

Eastern Mangroves occupies a prime position along a 1.2 km stretch of Abu Dhabi’s protected eastern mangrove district – an area famed for its strikingly green mangroves.

The hotel, marina and retail section of the project will be completed in January 2012, whilst the residences will be delivered in the second quarter of 2012.

The Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa is set to be a luxury five-star hotel, which will include 224 hotel rooms and suites, three themed restaurants, a stunning rooftop lounge with views of the mangroves, an infinity pool, ballroom with capacity to accommodate up to 350 guests, state-of-the-art conference facilities, and a luxury traditional spa offering an authentic Arabic hamam experience.

While the hotel’s architectural style is modern, inspiration has been drawn from Arabic design, so features include arches, mushrabiyas and timber trellises; views of the stunning natural surroundings are utilised through expansive and thoughtfully placed windows.

Highlights of the hotel’s food and beverage offerings will include The Rooftop Lounge, which will feature an LED roofline and lounge front that can be programmed to change colour to suit the mood of the evening, and Pachaylen, which will offer Thai cuisine in an intimate setting.

James Pringle, acting CEO of TDIC, said: “The delivery of the Eastern Mangroves resort in 2012 will add further value to the outstanding tourism offerings of Abu Dhabi. We have chosen Anantara to operate this highly important project, as their brand is expanding very fast, and they are known in the industry for going that extra mile and beyond, which is an element we wish for all TDIC projects to also be renowned for.”

With the appointment of Anantara as the operator of Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa, TDIC is expanding on its existing successful partnership with the highly reputable hospitality company, which operates TDIC’s well-established projects Qasr Al Sarab, and Desert Islands Resort & Spa, and has also been appointed to operate the  Al Yamm and Al Sahel Lodges on Sir Bani Yas island, which are due for completion later this year.

William (Bill) E Heinecke, founder, CEO and chairman of the Minor Group, said: ”Abu Dhabi has become one of the world’s top tourist destinations, and the launch of our first city hotel and fifth property in the UAE will ensure that Anantara continues to offer unique destination experiences in key locations across the globe. From an exotic oasis in the historic Liwa desert to Arabian wildlife and island adventures on Sir Bani Yas Island, guests can now experience the wonders of Abu Dhabi with our first city hotel. This new management partnership cements our close relationship with TDIC and shows that together we can offer a true, all-encompassing destination experience to guests visiting the Middle East.”

Upon completion, Eastern Mangroves will be an integrated tourism destination and residential community. It will consist of eight residential apartment buildings of varying designs, a promenade featuring restaurants, retail outlets, and a stunning marina with berths for up to 30 yachts.

The residential component of the resort will feature 220 premium apartments separated between two distinct residences. The properties will benefit from stunning views over the mangroves, as well as private pools, gyms, corniche facing terraces, and will offer a unique level of privacy for its residents. -TradeArabia News Service