Southern Sun in negotiations for Dubai comeback

EXCLUSIVE

South African operator Southern Sun, part of Tsogo Sun, is planning to re-enter the Dubai hotel market following the management takeover of its two Downtown properties last month.

“We’re in very advanced discussions with another developer for properties in Dubai and the region,” commented Southern Sun offshore managing director Richard Weilers.

He told Hotelier Middle East that the group hoped to have signed off the Dubai hotel deal by the end of the year.

On July 4, Emaar Hospitality Group announced it had taken over management of Southern Sun’s only hotels in the emirate, the well-established four-star Al Manzil and Qamardeen properties.

Weiler said the conclusion to hand operations over to Emaar, which is also master developer of the Downtown Dubai area, had been an “amicable” one.

However, with all offshore operations and development conducted from its Dubai office, Southern Sun was keen to make its market comeback.

The group is also on track to open a hotel in Abu Dhabi in September 2013, and has an agreement signed for the development of a four-star deluxe property in Jeddah.

“We’re also looking at Muscat,” revealed Weilers.