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Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah

Hotelier Middle East brought you the exclusive news of this hotel signing back in February of 2011, when His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah appointed Hilton Worldwide to manage the Al Hamra Palace hotel under its prestigious Waldorf Astoria brand.

Initially, they announced the hotel would open in Q4 2011, which soon shifted to Q4 2012, but now the partners are so confident of the imminent opening of this behemoth that they have announced a launch date of March 1, 2013.

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The delays are not all that surprising when you consider the grandeur of the property; the 349-room Arabian-themed palace hotel, with a 600-metre private beach, three outdoor swimming pools, and a choice of eight restaurants and lounges, is expected to be one of the most luxurious and exclusive destinations in the UAE.

It will also be the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in the country, to be followed a year later by the Al Habtoor Group-owned Waldorf Astoria on Palm Jumeirah.

Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah will be part of Al Hamra Village, a master planned development that covers an area of 2.5 million m² and includes 1.5km of beaches, 1000 villas and townhouses, 2500 residential apartments, two hotels, three resorts, an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and a marina, as well as a shopping mall.

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