Dubai master-developer Nakheel has delivered the first of 10 hotels planned under its hospitality and leisure expansion, with a new 251-room hotel now open at the Dragon Mart retail and leisure hub.

Owned by Nakheel and managed by AccorHotels under the ibis Styles brand, the three-star hotel welcomed its first guests this morning, following an opening ceremony led by Nakheel chairman Ali Rashid Lootah, and AccorHotels Middle East managing director and chief operating officer Olivier Granet.

“The delivery of our first hotel is a major milestone for Nakheel, marking the start of an exciting hospitality expansion programme that is set to bring 10 new hotels and resorts to Dubai,” said Lootah. “A hotel at Dragon Mart is a natural progression for this ever-growing retail and trading hub, and I am immensely proud to celebrate its opening today.”

The ibis Styles hotel is directly connected to Dragon Mart 2, Nakheel’s new shopping, dining and entertainment destination adjacent to the original, world-famous Dragon Mart mall.

“Together, the two Dragon Marts have more than 4,000 shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities that currently welcome over 100,000 people daily – or 36.5 million a year.  Among them are hundreds of thousands of shoppers and traders from the GCC and Mena regions who will welcome a hotel right on the doorstep,” added Lootah.  

Granet said: “We are very excited to develop the ibis Styles brand with Nakheel in a location as vibrant and dynamic as Dragon Mart. This brand is a guest favourite in AccorHotels’ global portfolio, being famous for combining comfort with conviviality. We expect leisure and business travellers in the area to find a unique and affordable hospitality solution in the trendy ibis Styles Dragon Mart.”

The ibis Styles hotel is one of two to be delivered at Dragon Mart and one of 10 in Nakheel’s planned hospitality expansion.  As of now, the company has seven hotels and resorts – with nearly 3,000 rooms between them – open, under construction or in design stage:

•     Dragon Mart:   ibis Styles hotel with 251 rooms, directly linked to Dragon Mart.  Now open.

•     Dr agon City:  Prem ier Inn-operated hotel with 250 rooms, forming part of the Nakheel’s Dragon City expansion.   Management agreement signed.

•    Ibn Battuta Mall:  Premier Inn-operated hotel with 372 rooms linked to Nakheel’s Ibn Battuta Mall.  Under construction.

•    Palm Jumeirah: The Palm Tower, a 289 room luxury hotel, to be managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts under the St Regis brand, occupying the first 18 floors of Nakheel’s 52-storey hotel and residential tower. Under construction.

•    Deira Islands:  joint venture with Spain’s RIU Hotels & Resorts for a 750-room, all-inclusive beachfront resort.  Design stage.

•    Deira Islands:  planned joint venture with Thailand’s Minor Hotel Group for a 500-room Avani-branded beachfront resort.  Design stage.

•    Deira Islands:  planned joint venture with Centara Hotels & Resorts, also from Thailand, for a 550-room resort and waterpark.  Design stage. – TradeArabia News Service