ROTANA announced the official opening of Al Ghurair Rayhaan and Al Ghurair Arjaan by Rotana in the heart of Deira, one of Dubai’s busiest tourism and commercial districts, taking the company’s total number of properties in Dubai to 15 – the highest of any operator in the city.
The two new hotels also represent Rotana’s largest ever room inventory in a single project and will add 620 rooms to Rotana’s Dubai portfolio – 428 rooms at Al Ghurair Rayhaan by Rotana and 192 apartments at Al Ghurair Arjaan by Rotana – bringing its total room inventory in the emirate to 3,795, its most significant in a single city within Rotana’s extensive portfolio.
Omer Kaddouri, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Rotana, said the two hotels answer the needs of the luxury hospitality market in Deira with two highly sought-after product offerings.
“Many guests seek to reflect their cultural values in their choice of hotel accommodation and Rayhaan by Rotana offers these guests the opportunity to stay in a world-class hotel that respects the culture and beliefs of this region,” said Kaddouri. “Prior to launching the Rayhaan by Rotana brand in 2010, our market research indicated the category’s huge potential due to its inherent appeal and popularity in the Middle East and that has been confirmed by more than 1,800 rooms already operating under the Rayhaan by Rotana brand. With the opening of the Al Ghurair property, Rotana now operates four Rayhaan hotels – three in the UAE and one in Saudi Arabia in Makkah.”
The Al Ghurair Arjaan Hotel takes Rotana’s portfolio of Arjaan residential properties to ten in total – eight in the UAE, with two more Arjaan properties in the wider Middle East. “Arjaan by Rotana combines Rotana’s service excellence and deep knowledge of the Middle East market in a first-class residential hospitality product. Arjaan Hotel Apartments are designed to close the gap between hotel and home,” Kaddouri said.
The two hotels feature four food and beverage venues that offer dining choices to satisfy every taste and mood, including an international all day dining restaurant Liwan; Buzz Deli Café for a quick bite, the Yasmine Lounge and the signature Persian restaurant Shayan.
The hotels are also the first in Dubai to include the company’s award-winning Zen the spa by Rotana concept. The spa comprises eight treatment rooms, separate male and female services and a steam sauna.
“Al Ghurair Rayhaan and Al Ghurair Arjaan, through their superior product offering, will further boost the luxury hospitality options available to guests looking to stay in Deira,” said Mark McCarthy, general manager. “Al Ghurair Rayhaan and Al Ghurair Arjaan by Rotana enjoy excellent connectivity, being just minutes away from Dubai Airport and one of Dubai Metro’s largest stations – Union – which offers access to the city’s two metro lines.”
“With Dubai becoming one of the main global destinations for shopping, the two new hotels are uniquely positioned to provide our guests with a convenient and enhanced leisure experience as they form part of the ongoing expansion of the adjoining Al Ghurair Shopping Center that will enhance the mall’s current portfolio of 200 shops and services to 350 in 2013,” he added.
The company also announced a slew of new appointments aimed at further streamlining its operations and maximising the utilisation of its human resources ahead of a major expansion drive in 2013. According to Kaddouri the moves come in the light of the brand increasing its footprint across many vibrant markets in the region in 2013 with the launch of several new properties across the Middle East, which will take the number of rooms under its management to more than 14,500 by the end of the year. The properties in the pipeline include the 119-key Majestic Arjaan by Rotana in Bahrain, the 257-key Hili Rayhaan by Rotana in Al Ain, UAE, and the 444-key Salalah Rotana Resort & Spa in Salalah, Oman.
Also on the list of 2013 openings are two properties of great significance in Rotana’s history: the 427-key Boulevard Arjaan by Rotana in Amman, which will be Rotana’s first foray into Jordan; the 200-key Karbala Rayhaan by Rotana, its second property in Iraq.