Hilton to manage 366-room Saadiyat Island resort

Hilton Worldwide has come to an agreement with Bin Otaiba Investment Group to manage a 366-room resort it is developing on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi.

Set to open at the end of 2015, Hilton Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island Resort will have a prime location at Saadiyat Beach, one of seven distinct districts making up Saadiyat Island.

It will offer guests nine different restaurants and bars, a wide range of event and meeting facilities, a health club, an outdoor pool and an eforea: Spa at Hilton, Hilton Worldwide's exclusive spa brand, designed to blend distinctive holistic treatments with specialist products sourced from natural resources.

"I am thrilled that today's announcement builds on our longstanding presence in the UAE, particularly in an area of the country gaining in prominence and prestige,” said Hilton Worldwide Middle East & Africa president Rudi Jagersbacher.

“Saadiyat Island is an inspired choice for our latest signing and, once open, will perfectly complement facilities and services at our existing hotels in the capital."

UAE developer Bin Otaiba Investment Group, which already has Hilton Sharjah within its portfolio, originally announced the plans for the construction of the resort last year. At the time, the company said it will be built on a 91,000 square metre plot and would include “a unique sand-bottom swimming pool”.

"Our knowledge and experience as a leading regional property developer and hospitality investment company coupled with Hilton Worldwide's expertise as hotel operators underlines the strong and enduring relationship we have enjoyed for a number of years,” said Bin Otaiba Investment Group chairman HE Khalaf Bin Ahmad Al Otaiba.

“Today's signing is crucial in further developing this beautiful area of UAE but, importantly, it also represents a springboard to launch our future plans as we seek to increase investment across a greater number of projects and add further weight and value to our growing Abu Dhabi portfolio."

Saadiyat is the focal point for Abu Dhabi’s aim to become cultural tourism destination, with the Louvre Abu Dhabi set to open in 2015, followed by Zayed National Museum in 2016 and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in 2017.