Emaar to site affordable hotels near theme parks

Jacqueline Daly, July 7th, 2013

Emaar-Meraas’ new budget hotel brand, Dubai Inn, will target the emirate's up-coming theme park destinations according to a report by The National.

The developer will continue to focus on its luxury sector through its partnership with Giorgio Armani with plans to develop some 10 hotels in the next 10 years, but given the surging number of visitors to Dubai will look to locate its affordable brand close to theme parks, which traditionally attract short-haul leisure seekers says the report.

The property developer is also said to be partnering with Dubai-based Meraas Holding to build the 11 million sq m mixed-use Dubai Hills Estate, which will feature an 18-hole golf course. It is also in talks with Dubai Holding to develop Dubai Creek Harbour, a 6.5 m sq m project says the report.

This latest announcement comes on the back of a string of recent openings including the group’s first Vida Hotel and Resorts in Downtown Dubai aimed at next-generation, modern travellers and the unveiling of expansion plans for the Dubai Mall, which as reported by Hoteliermiddleeast.com aims to attract 100 million visitors a year, having hosted 65 million visitors in 2012

In a recent statement to Hoteliermiddleeast.com on the launch of the Dubai Inn brand, chairman of Meraas Holding, Abdulla Al Habbai, said: "Dubai is focused on further strengthening its tourism sector, a key contributor to our economy.

“Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, as the city embarks on it ambitious tourism growth strategy, it is important to boost the hospitality sector with more affordable hotels to attract even larger numbers of tourists. We will develop affordable hotels with Emaar, under the new brand, to catalyse the city's hospitality sector."

Currently, Emaar's five-star hotel rooms account for nearly 62% of the total branded hotel inventory in the city.

The group owns and operates the five-star premium Address Hotels + Resorts, with five hotels in Dubai, which it says has recorded strong occupancy levels of 91% in the first three months of this year.