Yotel, a leading international hotel chain, has signed a long-term agreement with Dubai Investment Properties (DIP) to operate a new hotel in Dubai, UAE - the brand's first property in the Middle East.   

The hotel is part of a new major development located on Sheikh Zayed Road, directly adjacent to the upcoming Dubai Water Canal Project and at the gateway of Business Bay, the city's fastest growing business district. The hotel will be a short walk from the Business Bay Metro station and just minutes from Downtown Dubai, the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall.

When complete in early 2018, the 42-storey property designed by Arkiteknik International will boast 438 cabins, furnished with the brand's signature Techno Walls and Smart Beds, as well Yotel's exclusive Club Lounge, a multi-function co-working and recreational space. The property will also feature 127 serviced apartments, also managed by Yotel, marking the brand's debut in the fast-expanding serviced residence space.

“We are delighted to announce our first project in the UAE with DIP,” said Hubert Viriot, CEO of Yotel. “Dubai has a thriving hospitality market but lacks good quality, affordable luxury hotels. Yotel Business Bay will put an end to this oddity and be a true flagship for our brand in the Middle East, a region with huge untapped potential. This project is also our debut into the serviced apartment segment, a natural extension to our brand DNA - smart spaces delivering outstanding value”.

Francois Faure, executive director of DIP, said: “Ever since its creation in 1994, DIP has been focused on developing selective, forward-looking projects. Yotel brings something new and entirely unique to the local hotel market, and is in line with Dubai's Tourism Vision 2020 as well as its Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing objective to develop more mid-range hotels. YOTEL Business Bay will also perfectly complement the Single Business Tower, our existing office tower located directly adjacent.”

This agreement represents the first phase of Yotel's aggressive expansion into the Middle East. The company is currently in advanced negotiations on potential hotel projects in other key destinations in the region, including Riyadh and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Istanbul (Turkey) and Abu Dhabi (UAE). – TradeArabia News Service