Second ME Alila project to start construction

Alila Jabal Akhdar, the first Alila Hotels & Resorts Group project in the Middle East, opens its doors today (May 8) while a second Oman project is to begin construction in Salalah within the next six months.

Speaking exclusively to HotelierMiddleEast.com, Alila Hotels & Resorts president Mark Edleson said that the Salalah project was signed four to five years ago but construction was delayed due to the global financial crisis.

Edleson commented: “We continue to work on a project in Salalah. It’s a seaside resort, it’s very beautiful. It has been signed but the developer needed to bring in some financial partners so there have been two years of discussion but it’s nearly organized now from a financial point of view.

“It will be very similar in terms of positioning and it should be equally stunning. It will give us a beach resort in another part of Oman and that’s what I like about Oman, there are so many facets to it. We’ve started in the mountains which is a bit unique and now we’ll follow up with the coast.”

Edleson said that the privately developed Salalah project will be similar to the Alila Jabal Akhdar, developed by government company Omran, in terms of design and size.

He said: “It will have between about 80 to 100 rooms. It will have some villas, some suites, a sense of place – we’ll have a great spa, a beach club.”

Edleson revealed that the next step for Omani expansion may be Muscat, and that the company is eyeing projects in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, with Edleson having met with developers to discuss these over the last few days.

Sites on the Red Sea and at a Unesco site in Saudi Arabia are being considered while in Dubai, Edleson admits there would be scope for a beach resort and a luxury boutique city hotel.

Located in the Hajar Mountains and set 2000 metres above sea level, the Alila Jabal Akhdar Hotel opened its doors today.

The property comprises 84 suites and two Jabal villas,a restaurant and bar, outdoor and indoor pools and Spa Alila.