Yousef Almulla, managing director, Abjar Hotels International; Rashed Bu Qara’a, Chief operating officer, Dubai World Central; and Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG at the signing ceremony.
Intercontinental Hotels Group has signed a franchise agreement with Ajbar Hotels International for two new hotels in Dubai World Central, near the emirate’s new airport.
The new hotels – the 450-room Holiday Inn Dubai World Central and a 250-room Staybridge Suites Dubai World Central – will be located along the main route to the Al Maktoum International Airport, near the existing terminal.
Holiday Inn Dubai World Central, the fifth hotel under the brand in the UAE, will feature an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant, bar and meeting space.
Meanwhile, Staybridge Suites Dubai World Central which will be the first franchised property under the brand in the Middle East, will feature a mix of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites, with feature fully-equipped kitchens, entertainment and communications facilities, and separate working areas with complimentary Wi-Fi.
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"Dubai is a key growth city for us in the Middle East and with the development of new infrastructure we see greater opportunities for us to build our brands' presence here," said IHG chief operating officer, India, Middle East & Africa, Pascal Gauvin.
"Dubai World Central is set to become a major commercial hub with immense potential for us to cater to the rise in business and leisure travel, and we are very pleased to be working with Abjar Hotels International to develop the new Staybridge Suites Dubai World Central and Holiday Inn Dubai World Central.
"We have had a successful relationship with them and the signing of these two new hotels is a fantastic step forward for both Abjar Hotels International and IHG in the UAE."
Abjar Hotels International, which is the hospitality arm of the Almulla Group, already has five IHG properties in its portfolio, including four under the Holiday Inn Express brand and Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira.
"We have been working with IHG for many years and in that time we have enjoyed healthy growth and excellent returns on our IHG-branded hotels such as Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira and the four Holiday Inn Express hotels,” said Abjar Hotels International managing director Yousef Almulla.
"We are pleased to be extending our partnership with IHG to bring two new world-class properties to one of the most exciting upcoming business districts in Dubai."
Al Maktoum International Airport is expected to experience significant growth over the coming years, with the hub set to play a key role in welcoming visitors for Expo 2020. The airport will eventually be able to handle 200 million passengers a year.
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