From Avani Hotels & Resorts’ debut in Oman and Emirates Palace’s takeover by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to Accor’s taking charge of two iconic Dubai hotels, here is a list of new hotel openings and re-openings to watch out for in 2020.

Mandarin Oriental is all set to take over Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh by the end of the first quarter of this year. The hotel will remain operational while undergoing a phased renovation and will be rebranded in 2021, says the brand representative. 

Mandarin Oriental will also take over the iconic Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi within the end of March this year. The property will similarly remain operational while undergoing a phased renovation encompassing significant upgrades to guestrooms and recreational amenities, as well as new food and beverage facilities.

Late last year, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group announced that it has signed a management contract to manage, and ultimately brand, the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.    

Avani Muscat Hotel marks Avani's Omani debut. The new Avani Muscat Hotel brings the brand’s fresh, forward-looking style to one of the most up-and-coming areas of Oman. Set in Seeb, the heart of Muscat’s westward growth, the hotel will invite guests for laidback days of rooftop lounging, local shopping or just relaxing in effortless style and modern comforts. The property is set to welcome guests by close of this year.

Also expected to open by end of the year, but in Dubai, is Avani Palm View Dubai Suite & Residences. The 48-storey new-build property will be the third Avani in Dubai and will represent the debut of Avani residences in the region. Offering great visibility for the brand, Avani Palm View Dubai Suite & Residences will be located in a prime area of the city, directly overlooking the iconic Palm Jumeirah, adjacent to Dubai Marina and Media City and half an hour from Dubai International Airport, with many of Dubai’s other leading attractions and beaches close by.

Earlier this year Accor announced that it had taken over the operations of two of Dubai’s landmark hotels as part of a new strategic partnership with Dubai Developments, the privately held development company established by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Minister of Finance of the UAE and Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

The group will manage Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan (recently rebranded from Roda Al Bustan), a property that has become synonymous with the city and nearby Dubai International Airport since it opened more than two decades ago, and Swissôtel and Swissôtel Living Al Murooj (rebranded from Roda Al Murooj), another well-established hotel situated between Downtown Dubai and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Under partnership terms, both hotels are set to undergo significant upgrades in line with brand standards to ensure they meet the needs of today’s travellers in one of the world’s most competitive hospitality markets.

The double property takeover, effective this month, adds another 800 keys to Accor’s Dubai network, bolsters its premium and extended-stay portfolio and builds on the strength of two of the region’s well-known hospitality brands as part of an agreement that paves the way for additional property takeovers going forward.