Sheikh Mohammed approves Jumeirah expansion plan

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid (right) Al Maktoum (right) inspects the plans [IMAGE: sheikhmohammed.ae]

The ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has endorsed an AED8 billion (US $2.2 billion) expansion plan by Jumeirah Group which will see it add 4,300 rooms over the next three years in 11 countries.

His endorsement came during a visit to parent company Dubai Holding, where he reviewed the hotel group’s plans. He was accompanied by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation and chief executive of Emirates Group Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

During the visit, he urged the group to focus on the GCC, China and some developed Asian markets known for having steady growth.

Sheikh Mohammed said that companies such as Jumeirah “relate the success stories of the country to the whole world” and that they were bearing “greater responsibilities compared to those shouldered by the government entities in terms of representing the UAE’s national economy and boosting confidence in UAE’s investments in all sectors”.

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Jumeirah Group plans to double its revenues in the coming years and increase its number of hotels to 40 - with 10,000 hotel rooms – in the next three years. It currently operates 22 hotels in 11 countries, including seven properties in Dubai.

Speaking to Hotelier Middle East recently, Jumeirah Group president & CEO Gerald Lawless confirmed that the company will be expecting to add more hotels to its Dubai portfolio in the years leading up to the World Expo 2020.

Visiting Dubai Holding, Sheikh Mohammed also said the pace of the UAE’s foreign investments will increase during the coming years in light of the country’s investment strategies that focus on three main axis: balance, diversification and secure geographical distribution between east and west.

Also accompanying Sheikh Mohammed during the visit were Dubai director of protocol and hospitality Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Dubai Holding CEO Ahmed bin Bayat, Jumeirah Group president & CEO Gerald Lawless and Dubai Holding Group chairman Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi.