What’s new in Abu Dhabi...

All eyes are on tourism-related developments in Abu Dhabi as the UAE capital gears up to attract more than 2.7 million visitors a year by 2012.

To boost tourism, Abu Dhabi's Policy Agenda 2007-2008 asserts the capital must offer a unique experience to visitors, setting it apart from other places in the region vying for a slice of the profitable tourism pie, according to The Report Abu Dhabi 2008.

As part of the transformation, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), a master developer of cultural, residential and tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi, is expected to deliver 7000 hotel rooms of the projected 30,000.

Major hotel brands taking spots on flagship development, Saadiyat Island, include the 404-room Grand Millennium Corniche Hotel and the Regent Emirates Pearl Abu Dhabi, a 47-storey hotel to be managed by Rezidor Hotel's Regent Hotels & Resorts.

A number of milestones are also scheduled on the island for 2009. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is due to open this month and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum and the Zayed National Museum are expected to open in the third quarter.

The Gary Player-designed championship Saadiyat Beach Golf Course and Saadiyat Bridge are also scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Furthermore, as November fast approaches, phase one of theYas Island project is speeding along, ready for the Formula 1 Grand Prix series.

"And it's all going to schedule," according to Paul Bell, managing director of Aldar Hotels and Hospitality, the company developing seven hotels on the island.

"It was our responsibility to determine which brands we used and to get those operators on board and up and ready for the race. Everything we're doing is focused on that deadline," says Bell.

The company has selected six brands to manage the hotels. Two will be operated by International Hotels Group (IHG)-owned Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites.

"This is the second Staybridge in the Middle East and the first in the UAE. The extended-stay product is a new concept in this part of world, comprising of studios and one-bedroom apartments for guests staying around 12 days or more," says Bell.

Two of the hotels will be managed by Rotana Hotels; A Rotana Resort and a newly-developed three-star product, Rotana Centro.

"Rotana Centro is geared at the mid market. We're keen to make sure that we offer products on Yas Island to cater to all consumers' budgets," adds Bell.

Rezidor Hotel Group has also been selected for its core Radisson brand and mid-market Park Inn brand, again offering two different price points.

The island's signature property, The Yas Island Hotel, will be operated by Aldar, it was recently revealed by hoteliermiddleeast.com.

The five-star hotel, which is located above one of the main racetrack grandstands, will be the developer's first venture as an operator.

As well as the hotels and racetrack, phase one of the Yas Island development includes Ferrari World themepark and three golf courses.

"Ferrari World is going to be a very good-looking building on Yas Island, with the red Ferrari logo on top. Most of the themepark will be indoors; we'll have attractions, several roller coasters and a lot of dark rides with Ferrari-related content," said Yas Island Themeparks general manager Claus Frimand.

"There'll be lots of F&B opportunities, from table-serviced restaurants to cafes. There's going to be several merchandise locations and something for all age groups - from driving experiences to thrill rides," he added.

The next phases of the project will include a water park, a retail development covering 300,000m², lagoon hotels, marinas, polo clubs, residential areas and numerous F&B outlets.

Newest hotels in town

Aloft

Starwood Hotels and Resorts' latest brand Aloft will open its first Middle East property in Abu Dhabi in mid-October.

The 408-room hotel, located at the Capital Centre, part of Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), positions itself as a four-star hotel, but "it's not about silver spoons or silver service, it's a social place," says Aloft Abu Dhabi and Element Abu Dhabi complex director of sales and marketing Rene Camilleri.

"The DNA of the brand comes from the W brand - it's about being savvy and sassy - and the target age group is 25 to 45. They're well-travelled people who want things that are uncomplicated and rooms that are functional and technologically advanced," Camilleri says.

To cater to this market, rooms will feature extras, such as plug-and-play docking stations for iPod or laptops to be beamed onto a 42-inch screen, and F&B on a ‘grab-and-go' basis.

The product is less expensive than the W collection and is expected to attract corporates and short-stay leisure guests.

Prices are expected to be relatively high during convention periods, but off peak, Camilleri says rates may start from around $200 a night.

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Luxury brand Rosewood Hotels & Resorts will open its first UAE property in Abu Dhabi in 2012.

The Rosewood Abu Dhabi is being developed by Mubadala Development Company on Sawwah Island in Abu Dhabi's new Central Business District.

The five-star, 34-story resort will be a modern structure, comprising 190 rooms and suites, 140 serviced residencies, numerous retail and F&B outlets and the brand's signature wellness and fitness retreat Sense, A Rosewood Spa.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Fairmont Abu Dhabi Creek is a five-star beachfront business resort, comprising 369 rooms and expected to open in 2011.The hotel is the luxury brand's second property in the UAE - the Fairmont Dubai the first.

Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi

Shangri-La has signed an agreement with the Al Jaber Group to manage four-star Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, due to open this summer.

The hotel will feature 301 guest rooms and suites, waterfront dining and boutique shopping, an authentic Arabic souk and outdoor swimming pools.

Guests can also enjoy all of the restaurants and recreational facilities within the Qaryat Al Beri complex, located just a short drive from the city centre and the airport, including signature wellness retreat CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La.

There is an executive floor with a private lounge, complimentary refreshments and a dedicated concierge, plus two conference spaces for small- to medium-sized meetings.

"It's for mid-market and business travellers. Guests are getting four-star rates with five-star facilities and it's the only four-star hotel on the beach," says Shangri-La hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, director of sales and marketing Levant Tekün.

Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Abu Dhabi

Anantara-managed luxury leisure resort will comprise 154 rooms, 42 villas and 10 royal villas and, according to developers TDIC, the project is on schedule to open at the end of the year.

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