Al Bait Sharjah, a new boutique five-star resort in Sharjah, UAE, was officially inaugurated on December 13 by HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The new hotel becomes the first 5-star luxury hospitality brand in the UAE built on and inspired by rich Emirati heritage and culture.

 

The official opening, which was led by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, was also under the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, Sheikh Salem Bin Abdul Rahman Al Qasimi, director of the office of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, director of Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development (DSCD)and a number of senior officials from Sharjah’s state entities along with local and international journalists and influential personalities.

 

Al Bait, which translates to ‘The Home’, is part of an Emirati conservation project in Sharjah spearheaded by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). The hotel is the latest on GHM’s illustrious international list of hospitality properties, and features a collection of four heritage houses once owned by local families closely intertwined with Sharjah’s history. The five-star luxury resort is located in the Heart of Sharjah – a major cultural heritage site in the UAE.

 

Raising the bar and pioneering luxury hospitality in Sharjah, the resort is set to put the destination on the map. The boutique property, which is valued at Dh200 million ($54.4 million), is home to 53 luxury rooms and suites, and a range of facilities and amenities including an array of dining offerings inspired by Middle Eastern and Far Eastern cuisines, a luxury hammam, a helipad for the ultimate arrival, a fleet of 2019 Mercedes and an iconic 1967 Mercedes Pullman limousine.

 

The new luxurious property also features a museum and a library, with stories and archives on Sharjah’s history, and the history of the Al Midfa family and Al Naboodah family, who have shared a significant influence and presence in the emirate of Sharjah since the 1950s. The hotel is also connected to various facilities and hotspots in the Heart of Sharjah project, such as Souq Al Arsah and Souq Al Masqoof, through which guests and tourists can have easy access to further experiences in and around the Heart of Sharjah project.

 

Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, executive chairman, Shurooq, said: “Shurooq is committed to enhancing Sharjah's appeal as an investment, tourism, and business destination, guided by our traditions and inspired by innovation. With Al Bait Hotel, we have brought Shurooq’s boutique hotel concept to life, where guests who seek the perfect balance of luxury and authenticity will be able to immerse themselves in true Emirati surroundings, and experience second-to-none Arabic hospitality.”

 

“The colourful heritage of Sharjah is beautifully preserved in this uber-luxurious address in the emirate. Our focus and objective behind the launch of this new luxury property to take guests on a journey during a time before oil was discovered in Sharjah, and to invest in preserving a history of authenticity and rich heritage; being delivered directly to tourists,” he added.

 

Patrick Moukarzel, general manager of Al Bait Sharjah, said: “This is an exciting time for Sharjah and the global tourism industry, as we celebrate the debut of a luxury property that is set to redefine authentic tourism in the UAE and the Gulf Region.”

 

Al Bait Sharjah is situated in the UAE’s most ambitious historical restoration project known as Heart of Sharjah - a distinctly unique development which follows traditional Sharjah architecture built upon the original foundations of old houses that once belonged to the most esteemed families in the country. Heart of Sharjah seeks to revitalise the heritage district and introduce visitors to its glorious past, transforming restaurants, cafes, art galleries and atmospheric local bazaars where tourists can experience the UAE’s cultural and social fabric. - TradeArabia News Service