Starwood to open new Sheraton Hotel in Dubai

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed an agreement with Abdulsalam Alrafi Group LLC to open a new Sheraton hotel in Dubai.

Scheduled to open beginning of 2014, the hotel will be part of a three-tower mixed-use project located in the heart of Dubai’s commercial district.

“We are delighted to be working with the Abdulsalam Alrafi Group as we open our newest Sheraton hotel in Dubai, a destination that continues to see growing demand from both business and leisure travellers,” said Roeland Vos, president, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & the Middle East.

“Starwood is established as the sector leader in the Middle East and we are dedicated to continued growth and expansion in the region. This market continues to be integral to our overall development strategy.”

Mohamed Abdulsalam Alrafi expressed his pleasure and content for signing the management agreement with Starwood and said: “We look forward to a very fruitful association with Starwood and we are confident that, through this partnership, the Sheraton Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road shall be one of the leading destinations in the U.A.E. and Gulf Area.”

The new Sheraton Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road Hotel will comprise 660 rooms including 480 guest rooms and 180 serviced apartments. The hotel will also feature extensive dining, conference and leisure facilities as well as signature Sheraton amenities including the all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed, designed to meet AAA’s Five Diamond Award criteria, a Sheraton Club Lounge and the Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft communications hub where guests can socialise or make connections on-line.

The hotel will face the Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Financial Centre.

The new Sheraton Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road Hotel is part of the Sheraton brand’s global strategic expansion plan that includes adding more than 60 new hotels and more than 20,000 rooms to the Sheraton portfolio over the next three years.

Sheraton recently announced that it has invested more than $100 million into upgrading 120 Club Lounges around the world. The enhancement to Sheraton Club Lounges – one of the most popular Sheraton signature amenities – is the final chapter of the brand’s recent $6 billion revitalisation effort.