Dubai plans Arabian resort at Hatta

Dubai has unveiled plans to develop an exclusive Arabian- Style resort in Hatta.

Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who is also the chairman of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) unveiled an artist's impression of the proposed resort at the European Incentive and Business Travel Meetings (EIBTM) exhibition in Geneva.

He made the presentation of the planned development to an audience of hosted buyers from four countries - the UK, Germany, France and Australia as well as the international media.

Shaikh Mohammed headed a 52-strong team to the event which received a massive response from visitors and buyers at Europe's major incentive market gathering.

The new development will combine a state-of-the-art convention centre, an open-air amphitheatre with full-fledged facilities for stage and back-stage provisions, a village plaza, traditional souq (market place), handicraft area and workshops as well as food and beverage outlets.

The Hatta Heritage Village Resort will be set in the midst of the Hajar mountains and include exclusive suites and chalets.

In other highlights of Dubai's presence at the EIBTM:

Dubai tourism authorities have launched their proposed destination loyalty programme, the Dubai Card, in conjunction with Emirates Loyalty.

DTCM Director Operations and Marketing, Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb, said: "The Dubai Card is a smart card-based loyalty programme which will simply give back a slice of all that visitors spend in a day."

He said the Dubai Card would be an excellent promotional tool for tourism companies to reach potential visitors.

DTCM will open a new office in Zurich as part of a key initiative to build up Dubai's business and tourism links with Switzerland and Austria, Shaikh Shaikh Mohammed announced.

DTCM's promotional activities in the Swiss and Austrian markets will include exhibition participation, marketing visits, presentations and roadshows, advertising, brochure distribution, media relations, as well as familiarisation visits to Dubai for influential business and travel journalists.

Dubai's booming hotel industry will receive a further boost with the entry of two top-class German hotels including a 300-room Robinson Select, a 300-room Iberotel and a possible third hotel, Shaikh Mohammed announced.