Al Habtoor marks the end of Metropolitan era

A closing ceremony was held at the Metropolitan hotel on March 7, to mark the end of the landmark Dubai property, which was opened in 1978.

The 179-room Al Habtoor hotel, which also includes 63 furnished apartments, is to be demolished in June to make way for a new hotel – one of three planned by the group.

Khalaf Al Habtoor, chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, said that, while he was “personally very sad”, the company had to “ grow with the country as the country grows economically – we have to support the growth, and we have to promote the country.”

He added: “We had two choices – one choice to grow, and one choice to stay as we are. I think we choose the right one. I think all from the UAE and most of you – European, Asian or English – who live in this country are all one family and we have to push and support my country in progressing.”

Playing at the closing ceremony was a band comprised of musicians who played in the hotel’s Rattlesnake and Red Lion bands in the 1980s.

The new replacement hotel will be part of a $1.33 billion complex which also includes a theatre and is scheduled for completion in 2015.