Work begins on AED 100 million Al Bait Hotel

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has announced work has begun on the Al Bait Hotel project, which will be located in the Heart of Sharjah, the city’s heritage tourism development.

The AED 100 million (US $27.2 m) five-star hotel will be spread over 10,000 sq m and will comprise 54 guest rooms in various configurations, dining areas, a traditional Arabic tea and coffee house, a spa and health club, and all day dining options.

The Al Bait Hotel will consist of several houses and buildings, five of which, are heritage houses such as Bait Ibrahim Al Midfa, Bait Eissa Al Midfa, Bait Abdul Rahman Al Midfa, Bait Abdullah Al Mahmoud, and Al Midfa Majlis, which are currently under renovation.

Additional homes will be built in accordance with the standards and designs of traditional homes and will retain the names of their former owners.

Heart of Sharjah manager Yousif Al Mutawa, said: “One of the most important aspects of Al Bait’s development is the renovation of all of the traditional Emirati houses that form part of the project. Each one of these properties was once owned by families that had a significant impact on Sharjah’s history and are therefore important symbols of the Emirate’s legacy.”

“Guests staying at Al Bait hotel will have the opportunity to experience living in these traditional Emirati homes, giving them a far richer and immersive experience of the region’s history and heritage than any other available,” he added.

Areas surrounding the Heart of Sharjah development where the Al Bait Hotel development is based will be closed, beginning with the Souk Al Arsah area in July.

Another set of roads leading to the Bank Street will close mid-July, followed by the closure of the paved parking area beside the Commercial Bank International in August. Work on all these areas is expected to be completed by December 2013.